OAKVILLE, Ontario, May 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community members, supporters and volunteers will gather on Sunday at the MADD Canada PIA Law Strides for Change (GTA) event to raise funds and awareness to help stop impaired driving and support victims and survivors.

Impaired driving continues to be a deadly problem on Canadian roads, claiming more than 1,000 lives each year and injuring tens of thousands of people. The MADD Canada PIA Law Strides for Change (GTA) event supports programs and services to make our communities safer from impaired driving.

The signature walk/run offers a 5 km competitive run, 5 km walk or 1 km walk, followed by food, beverages, lots of prizes and live and silent auctions. All activities will be held at JC Saddington Park, 53 Lake Street, Mississauga (Port Credit).

Maple Lodge Farms and Tim Hortons will be on site with great treats for participants and volunteers. MADD Canada’s exciting and innovative mobile classroom, SmartWheels, will also be at the event, offering guests a sneak peek at the powerful and fully interactive new education program being delivered to elementary schools across Ontario.

Special guest Janice Golding of CTV Toronto will host the event as the Master of Ceremonies. Ms. Golding will open the event with welcome remarks at 8:45 a.m. and start the first group of runners off at 9 a.m.

Media are invited to come out to the event and help us make Strides for Change!

Date:		Sunday, June 3, 2018
Location:		JC Saddington Park, 53 Lake Street, Mississauga (Port Credit)
Schedule of Events:		Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.
		Welcome and Warm-up – 8:45 a.m.
		Start Time – 9:00 a.m. Celebration with food, refreshments and prizes after the walk/run.

There is something for everyone at this fun, family event, so sign up today. Invite your family, friends and co-workers, too, and form your own team.

Registration is limited so visit https://www.stridesforchange.ca to sign up and start raising pledges now. Pre-event registration is open until May 31 at a cost of $45 per person. Event-day registration is $55. The first 500 participants will receive a participant race bag, race shirt and medal.

Leading the charge on event day will be our Title Sponsor, PIA Law. In addition to the generous financial support and incredible awareness they raise for MADD Canada’s events and programs, PIA Law fields a large and enthusiastic team of participants. PIA Law is comprised of three of Canada’s top ranked personal injury law firms: McLeish Orlando, Oatley Vigmond and Thomson, Rogers. To learn more, visit www.pialaw.ca.

Our other sponsors -- Presenting Sponsor Alcohol Countermeasure Systems, Official Sponsor Debco and Media Partners Corus Entertainment radio stations CHML 900, Fresh 95.3 and Y108 – will also be out in force on Sunday to participate, cheer on the runners and walkers, and lend their generous support.

“We are excited to welcome everyone to our sixth annual event, which promises to be our biggest and best yet,” said MADD Canada Chief Executive Officer Andrew Murie. “MADD Canada is grateful and fortunate to have the support of enthusiastic participants, dedicated volunteers and wonderful sponsors. It’s an incredible team effort as we continue the fight to stop impaired driving and to support victims and survivors.”

Local Chapters across Canada host Strides for Change events from spring until late summer. For a full list of events across the country, please visit www.stridesforchange.ca. People who don’t live near a walk location can participate as a Virtual Walker or simply by making a donation.

About MADD Canada
MADD Canada is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. For more information, visit www.madd.ca.

About PIA Law
PIA Law is comprised of three of Canada’s top ranked personal injury law firms: McLeish Orlando, Oatley Vigmond and Thomson, Rogers. United by a commitment to deliver unparalleled legal representation, and an inherent belief that clients deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion, the firms recognized that by working together they could help make the overwhelming process of finding the right personal injury lawyer a little bit easier. To learn more, visit www.pialaw.ca.

For more information, contact: 
                  Deb Kelly, MADD Canada Communications Manager at 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or dkelly@madd.ca. 
                  Kira Thomson, PIA Law Communications at 647-234-9930 or kira.thomson@pialaw.ca.