The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario will be able to do more to help children struggling with obesity thanks to a generous donation from an Ottawa homebuilder.
A $500,000-donation from Doyle Homes will be matched by the CHEO Foundation, giving the hospital a $1-million boost for its campaign to combat childhood obesity.
"It's something that really hit a cord with my personal beliefs – their initiative. I think healthy living affects such a large segment of our population and if we can have a focus on children getting into a healthy lifestyle early, the preventative benefits of that are so far-reaching and multi-faceted that it's just a great cause to support," said homebuilder Trevor Doyle.
Although Doyle himself never struggled with childhood obesity, he says he benefited from having a healthy lifestyle and playing sports as a child. Doyle adds he thinks it's important to make children aware of healthy living early in life, before they develop bad habits.
The president of the CHEO Foundation says the donation puts the hospital over the $20-million mark on its way to raising $25 million for research and medical equipment to tackle childhood obesity.
"Doyle Homes' commitment to the (Healthy Active Living and Obesity) program is of the utmost importance as our scientists and researchers work to address an alarming rise in childhood obesity. We are truly thankful for their commitment to the health of our children," said Fred Bartlett, CEO and president of the CHEO Foundation.
It's estimated there's been a 300 to 500 per cent increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Canada over the last few generations. The current trend suggests obesity will get worse over the next decade.
