Oakville resident, Catherine Mulvale, a survivor of necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) and streptococcal toxic shock is happy to be alive ! So happy in fact, she invited the entire town of Oakville, Ontario to ‘Take a Hike” on June 12, 1999. After surviving her life threatening illness and thankful for the opportunity to resume an active healthy life, Cathy launched the “LIFE hike”.

The very successful 1999 hike was the first fundraising event for “Surviving Strep - Strategies for LIFE" , an initiative Cathy started to raise $10 million + for streptococcal research and to promote awareness of the bacteria and the illnesses it causes to the public and health care communities.

Mulvale’s goal is to establish the LIFE hike as a national, annual, fundraising event for the Strategies for Life organization while encouraging people to celebrate their lives.

363 Hikers participated in the first hike, raising over $46,000 dollars in pledges and donations. An additional $23,000 was donated through in-kind contributions to support the event and the organization.

Plans for the year 2000 hikes are already in full swing. On Saturday, June 10, 2000 Mississauga, Peterborough and Oakville will all host LIFE hikes. Cathy and the organizers at Strategies for LIFE invite all in these and surrounding communities to a take few proactive steps on one of the three provincial LIFE trails.

For more information contact:

Surviving Strep - Strategies for LIFE
(905) 257-0007
dynamite@cgo cable.net