Hockey legend Doug Gilmour shines spotlight on diabetes prevention and care

Gilmour shares his story to mark Sun Life Financial's $5 million donation to diabetes clinic

TORONTO, June 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Hockey legend Doug Gilmour is lending his voice in support of diabetes awareness at the unveiling of the Sun Life Financial Banting and Best Diabetes Clinic at Toronto General Hospital. This very hospital made the ground-breaking discovery of insulin in 1921 and today the clinic is being renamed to mark Sun Life's $5 million gift. The former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs lost his father to the disease while his mother and brother are currently battling diabetes.

"I've seen first-hand the impact diabetes can have on an individual and their family," Gilmour explained. "Losing my father to this debilitating disease and having both my mother and brother living with it has been difficult. I hope by sharing my personal story I can shine a light on diabetes research and prevention and keep other families from going through the same struggles."

According to the 2012 Sun Life Canadian Health Index^TM, almost 40 per cent of Canadians are touched by diabetes; Doug Gilmour is one of them.

"We are proud to have Doug Gilmour support us in our efforts to bring awareness to this disease," said Mary De Paoli, Executive Vice-President, Public & Corporate Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Life Financial. "Together we strive to educate and empower Canadians to join us in managing and preventing diabetes."

The Sun Life Financial Banting and Best clinic at the Toronto General Hospital is dedicated to making innovative advances in diabetes research.

"Diabetes is the 21^st century epidemic," said Dr. Gary Lewis, Sun Life Financial Chair in Diabetes. "Sun Life's generous gift to the clinic will allow us to continue in the footsteps of Banting and Best to work towards a cure for diabetes and improve the lives of those affected by this disease."

Media are invited to attend and hear Doug Gilmour share his personal journey with diabetes. Interview and photo opportunities are also available with Mr. Gilmour.

When: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. for interview and photo opportunities with Doug Gilmour and Sun Life Financial's President and Chief Executive Officer, Dean Connor.

Where: Sun Life Financial Banting and Best Diabetes Centre
Toronto General Hospital
200 Elizabeth Street Eaton Building, 12^th Floor General Hospital, Toronto

Networking reception to continue at the DeGasperis Conservatory, 4^th Floor at 6:00 p.m.

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial and its partners have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2013 the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $571 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

About University Health Network

University Health Network (UHN) consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The scope of research and complexity of cases have made UHN a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care.  It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada with major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, and genomic medicine.  UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. www.uhn.ca.

*Source: Canadian Diabetes Association

 

SOURCE: Sun Life Financial Inc.