Thanks to the generosity of Shoppers Drug Mart customers and employees, more than $6,346 has been raised to support North York General Hospital’s Karen, Heather and Lynn Steinberg Breast services program through this year’s Tree of Life™ fundraising campaign.

During the three weeks, over 1,150 Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix stores across the country have been participating in the eighth annual Tree of Life campaign benefiting over 300 local women’s health initiatives.

Since its inception, the campaign has raised over $11 million which has been directed towards improving the quality of life for Canadians. In North Toronto, the proceeds raised by local Shoppers Drug Mart customers and employees at 10 stores will benefit North York General Hospital.

North York General Hospital is a leading cancer care facility and is committed to the fight against breast cancer. The Hospital provides a comprehensive range of breast cancer services, including diagnosis, genetic testing, treatment and palliative care. North York General Hospital is the second largest provider of breast cancer care in Toronto and has the second highest volume of breast cancer surgeries in Ontario.

“The success of this year’s campaign has been made possible by the support and commitment of our customers and staff,” said Beth McMullen.

Approximately 22,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Last year, almost 9,000 patients came to the Hospital for breast-related assessment. Women, and occasionally men, are referred to the Hospital’s breast imaging service by their family physicians or specialists and can self-refer, if they qualify, through the Ontario Breast Screening Program at the Hospital’s Branson site. For urgent assessment, patients can be referred by their physicians to North York General Hospital’s renowned BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre (BDC). Established in 1997, the BDC has touched more than 13,000 lives.

“The success of this year’s campaign has been made possible by the support and commitment of our customers and staff,” said Beth McMullen. “Shoppers Drug Mart is dedicated to supporting women’s health initiatives at national, regional and local levels, in order to provide women access to health care resources, services and education to improve their whole health. We are pleased to present this year’s Tree of Life campaign proceeds to North York General Hospital’s Karen, Heather and Lynn Steinberg Breast services program.

The Shoppers Drug Mart Tree of Life fundraising campaign is a three-week program held across Canada each autumn. Customers, staff and Pharmacist-Owners at over 1,150 Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores together raise funds for a local women’s health charity by purchasing a paper leaf, maple leaf or apple for the Tree of Life. Since 2002, the Tree of Life campaign has raised $11 million for Canadian health charities. This year alone, over 300 women’s health charities across Canada will benefit from the proceeds. Shoppers Drug Mart stores are owned by local pharmacists who live, work and give back to the communities they serve.

About Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With more than 1,159 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The Company also licenses or owns more than 32 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and two luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale. As well, the Company also owns and operates 66 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Alberta.