June 2/06 12:15 pm - Bicycle Trek for Life & Breath, BC Ministry of Health Makes Half Million Investment in Tobacco Free Sports

Posted by Editoress on 06/2/06
 

The 22nd annual Bicycle Trek for Life & Breath

Be part of the 22nd annual Bicycle Trek for Life & Breath on September 9 ˆ 10, 2006! This BC Lung Association fundraising event is a 2-day, 200-kilometre, fully supported ride through the scenic Fraser Valley. Cycling enthusiasts from all across the province participate in this event, raising both awareness and funds in support of lung health in B.C.

Event information and online registration is available at www.bicycletrek.ca.


Province Invests a Half Million in Tobacco Free Sports
Courtesy PacSport

The Ministry of Health is investing $550,000 into a five-year partnership with PacificSport to promote tobacco free sports events in British Columbian communities, announced Health Minister George Abbott today.

"Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease in B.C.," said Abbott. "We are building on British Columbia's reputation as the healthiest province in Canada by providing funding through PacificSport to promote healthier lifestyles for all British Columbians. This partnership will help us to meet our ActNow BC goal of reducing tobacco use in B.C. by 10 per cent for 2010."

PacificSport, the lead non-governmental delivery agent for sport performance programs in B.C., will use the funding to work with its existing network of centres and strong relationships with provincial and local sport organizations throughout the province to promote Tobacco Free Sports. The funding will be distributed over a five-year period.

"We are very pleased to be working with the Province of B.C. on this important project that will address tobacco use in sport, benefit all British Columbians and continue to put this province in a leadership position for health and physical activity promotion," said Roger Skillings, PacificSport CEO.

Launched in 2003, Tobacco Free Sports is internationally recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Canadian Centre for Disease Control. Its mandate is to encourage healthy and positive alternatives to tobacco use through programs supported by communities, health authorities, schools, sports and community organizations. In B.C., Tobacco Free Sports is provincially and regionally funded through the health authorities to educate individuals and communities of the negative effects of tobacco use and its direct link to decreased sport performance.

World No Tobacco Day, sponsored by WHO, is celebrated every May 31st and is the only global event that brings to attention the effects of tobacco use and the promotion of tobacco-free initiatives. This year's theme is "Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise."

ActNow BC is an integrated, multi-sectored, partnership-based initiative that is supporting British Columbians to make healthy choices around tobacco use, physical activity, healthy eating, and alcohol use in pregnancy. It is one of the most proactive and progressive health promotion and chronic disease prevention initiatives of its kind. It is this strategy that will support government's commitment to make British Columbia lead the way in North America in health and physical fitness.

PacificSport works with partners at the national, provincial and regional levels to provide B.C. and Canadian athletes and coaches with every advantage to reach the podium. PacificSport's unique and innovative partnership model is delivered through eight PacificSport Centres (Fraser Valley, Interior B.C., Okanagan, Northern B.C., Sea to Sky, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Victoria). For more information please visit www.pacificsport.com.