It Takes GUTS to Make it Stop! Join Monarch As We Support The Gutsy Walk

Join Monarch's Kevin Samson on Sunday, June 7th, 2015, for the 20th Annual Gutsy Walk and become part of Canada’s largest community event committed to raising funds for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 

By participating or sponsoring a loved one, you can show those living with Crohn’s and colitis they are not alone. (You can spot Kevin and his wife Wendy at the 6 second mark of the video.)

Kevin would like to thank everyone at Monarch who, as a group, donated $865.

Some facts about from GutsyWalk.ca:

• Gutsy Walk started as the Heel 'n' Wheel-a-Thon in 1996 in 24 communities and has since grown to 60+ communities; $29 million in funds raised to date.
• Over the past 19 years, with the support of thousands of dedicated volunteers and participants, Gutsy Walk has grown from raising $3.1 to $3.2 million per year for education and research.
• Through the fundraising efforts of Gutsy Walk participants, there are more researchers hard at work in Canada which includes funding more than 36 promising research projects in the past year.

Some facts about Crohn’s and Colitis Canada:

• 1 in every 150 Canadians is living with Crohn’s and colitis – a rate that ranks in the highest worldwide.
• Families new to Canada are developing Crohn’s and colitis for the first time – often within the first generation.
• Most alarming, the number of new cases of Crohn’s disease in Canadian children has almost doubled since 1995.
• Nearly 250,000 Canadians are affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is one of the leading funders of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research in the world – having invested over $88 million in world-class research projects and initiatives

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is Proud to Support Kevin and Wendy Samson and the 2014 Gutsy Walk

On Sunday, June 8th, 2014, Canadians coast to coast walked united at the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s 19th annual Gutsy Walk, showing loved ones living with Crohn’s and colitis that they are not alone. Together, teams and individual walkers fundraised by collecting pledges from their friends, family and co-workers, for much-needed research and education to find cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improve the lives of children and adults affected by these chronic diseases. This year, close to 15,000 participants in 59 communities across Canada raised over $3 million to be used for education and research.

Wendy and Kevin Samson

Among those participating were Monarch designer Kevin Samson and his wife Wendy. "A huge thank you to everyone at Monarch who, as a group, raised $765. Well done!" says Kevin. "This year, Wendy and I raised a total of $2,670."

Some facts about Crohn’s and Colitis Canada:

• 1 in every 150 Canadians is living with Crohn’s and colitis – a rate that ranks in the highest worldwide.
• Families new to Canada are developing Crohn’s and colitis for the first time – often within the first generation.
• Most alarming, the number of new cases of Crohn’s disease in Canadian children has almost doubled since 1995.
• Over 233,000 Canadians are affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is one of the leading funders of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research in the world – having invested over $82 million in world class projects and initiatives.

Some facts about Gutsy Walk:

• Gutsy Walk started as the Heel 'n' Wheel-a-Thon in 1996 in 24 communities and has since grown to 60+ communities; $26 million in funds raised to date.
• Over the past 18 years, with the support of thousands of dedicated volunteers and participants, Gutsy Walk has grown from raising $280,000 to $2.9 million per year for education and research.
• Through the fundraising efforts of Gutsy Walk participants, there are more researchers hard at work in Canada which includes funding more than 36 promising research projects in the past year.
  

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is proud to donate to this worthy cause. For more information on how you can donate or volunteer your time, visit www.gutsywalk.ca.

Source: Crohn's and Colitis Canada and Gutsy Walk facts courtesy of gutsywalk.ca.

Monarch Kitchen's Kelly Fonseca is Running for the Cure

On Sunday, September 30th, 2013, Kelly Fonseca of Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is taking part in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.

From RunForTheCure.com:

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure is Canada's largest single day, volunteer-led fundraising event dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs.

It was founded by a small group of volunteers who wanted to raise awareness and funds for the breast cancer cause. The Run for the Cure has made great strides since then, while staying true to grassroots and our volunteer founders’ vision.
Last year, Canadians united to raise over $30 million in the 2011 Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.

From Kelly's personal fundraising page:

"When I think about the estimated over 23,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in Canada, it feels good to know I’m doing something to change those statistics through my participation, fundraising and by learning more about breast cancer.

You can make a difference, too! With your support, the Foundation will continue funding breast cancer research, education, awareness, advocacy and health promotion initiatives across the country, aimed to significantly reduce the burden of breast cancer in Canada. To learn more about the work the Foundation is funding, visit www.cbcf.org.

Every donation counts. Your continued dedication moves the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation closer to achieving its vision of creating a future without breast cancer."

The team at Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre supports Kelly in her Run for the Cure. If you'd like make a donation to help fund breast cancer research, please click here.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Raises Funds for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada

On Sunday, June 10th, thousands of Canadians at close to 80 locations across Canada took part in the Gutsy Walk in support of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada.

Supporters of the Gutsy Walk helped raise money to find a cure for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is made up of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

"CCFC-funded IBD research has confirmed what we have suspected for years -- Canada has one of the highest rates for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the world and those rates are increasing. In fact, one in 160 Canadians is living with IBD."  ~ www.gutsywalk.ca

Monarch's team has been fundraising for weeks and is proud to donate over $500 to this worthy cause.

Monarch designer Kevin Samson with his wife Wendy.

From Kevin and Wendy Samson:

"With your support, we raised $2,995 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada and 'Team Sinai' raised over $64,000 -- the #1 team in CCFC's fundraising across Canada."

For more information on how you can donate or volunteer your time, visit www.gutsywalk.ca.

The Back to School Backpack Program: Helping Durham Region Families Send Their Children Back to School Prepared

For many parents in Durham Region, the struggle to feed, clothe and house their families is ongoing. And when September rolls around, there is often no room in the budget for new clothes, let alone backpacks and school supplies. 

At this time every year, a group of dedicated volunteers solicits the help of the school board and various businesses throughout the Region to ensure these families are not forgotten and children in need of assistance return to school with a new backpack filled with school supplies.

Angie Baglieri has been involved with the Back to School Backpack program for five years and is saddened to see how the need continue to grow each year. "I've heard stories of parents trying to keep a roof over their heads. Every month, they have to choose between buying food or paying the hydro bill; buying a backpack and school supplies or paying the gas bill. This program is necessary and it helps."

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is proud to support the Back to School Backpack program again this year and encourages other local businesses to do the same.

"The school board has partnered with us to identify the supplies necessary and approximated the quantities of filled backpacks required," explains Angie. "With 100% of donations directly allocated to the program, your donation will ensure that children in our community have the tools they need for a successful school year."

The Back to School Backpack program has obtained the services of a local supplier who will provide age-appropriate, filled (pencils, pens, crayons etc) backpacks for $13+tax per bag. For Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, Oshawa, Scugog, Whitby and Uxbridge, the combined total required has been determined to be approximately 2,000 units.

To ensure all students begin the school year prepared, volunteers will begin delivering the backpacks to schools during the week of August 29th.

"Our fundraising goal again this year is $20,000," says Angie. "This amount may need to go up...I've seen it in the past."

Businesses wishing to donate to the Back to School Backpack program are asked to call Angie Baglieri at 905-721-8878 or email angiebaglieri@yahoo.ca. All donations are issued a receipt from the United Way.

Hope Flows at Monarch

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is pleased to join GROHE in their support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, where a minimum of 85 cents of every dollar goes toward funding the most advanced and promising breast cancer research across the globe.

Through their 's HopeFlows breast cancer research initiative, GROHE encourages consumers to "tap into a great feeling" and support this worthy cause.

Buy a Ladylux3 Café or Ladylux3 Plus faucet and $25 from your purchase sponsors 30 minutes of hope in the form of vital breast cancer research. GROHE's goal is to raise enough money -- approximately $250,000 US -- to fund a breast cancer research project for one year. To learn more, call Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre today at 905-686-2001 or visit www.grohe.ca.