RBC Run for the Kids goes extra mile for mental health

Press Release
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RBC RUN FOR THE KIDS CHALLENGES YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Annual event aims to fundraise over $1.5 million for the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

TORONTO, APRIL 14, 2014 - RBC and Sunnybrook are pleased to announce the official launch of the second annual RBC Run for the Kids. Now open for registration, the 2014 event will take place at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto on Saturday, September 20.

In its inaugural year in 2013, RBC Run for the Kids was the fourth largest running event in Toronto - it drew 4,500 participants and raised more than $1.2 million. This year, the event aims to raise $1.5 million to benefit the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook which provides essential navigation and support to young Canadians and their families affected by mental illness and addictions. To accommodate a broader range of fitness levels, a new 15K run will be available in addition to last year's 5K run/walk and 25K run.

"As many as two million Canadian youth struggle with mental health or addiction issues but only one in five receives specialized treatment," says Dr. Anthony Levitt, co-chair of the Family Navigation Project and a psychiatrist at Sunnybrook. "Families typically don't know how to source the right services or treatments. That's why we created this program. It helps them navigate a complex mental health care system so that they can get the help they need, when they need it."

Since 2008, the RBC Children's Mental Health Project has provided more than $20 million to support over 350 organizations dedicated to providing early intervention, increasing public awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness. The Project is part of RBC's Believe in Kids Pledge - a five-year, $100 million dollar commitment to improve the well-being of kids and youth in Canada.

"We hope all kids can be healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. Thousands of children living in our communities are affected by mental health issues, and we understand the toll this can have on them and their families," said Jamie Anderson, deputy chair, RBC Capital Markets and executive champion of the RBC Children's Mental Health Project. "RBC is committed to helping these families and we are proud to support the Family Navigation Project through the second annual RBC Run for the Kids."

Visit rbcrunforthekids.ca to register and for complete run details. Click here to learn more about the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook.

About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.2 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada's premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The Hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada's war veterans. For more information about how Sunnybrook is inventing the future of health care please visit us online at www.sunnybrook.ca.

About RBC's Commitment to Community and Sustainability

Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) is Canada's largest bank and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 42 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is one of Canada's Greenest Employers, and one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships, community investments and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in sponsorships. Learn more at rbc.com/community-sustainability.

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For media enquiries, contact:

Sophia Massari, Communications, RBC, 416.974.7503, sophia.massari@rbc.com
Nadia Radovini, Communications Advisor, Sunnybrook, 416-480-4040 (or 416.671.9147 on event day), Nadia.radovini@sunnybrook.ca