The Mikey Network

2015 Walk of Life Fundraiser – Thank You Team Mikey!

Thank you Team Mikey! The 2015 Walk of Life was a huge success because of you. Team Mikey brought out 400 walkers and runners this year and exceeded our fundraising goal by raising more than $156,000.

It was a fun, amazing day and even the weather cooperated despite a rainy forecast. Thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors and fundraisers, that made this year’s walk such a success.

These funds are essential for us to continue our work, including placing 250 MIKEYs (defibrillators) in all Peel District schools. So again, THANK YOU TEAM MIKEY!!

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June 4, 2015

All About Our Mikey Programs

News & Events

The Mikey Network has a number of programs that provide education, training, and of course life-saving MIKEYS in as many high-risk, high-need locations as possible.

Mikey Young At Heart – The School Defibrillator Program

The MIKEY’s installed under this program are available to hundreds of high school and continuing education students, their teachers and school staff. The life-saving potential is even greater when you consider that schools form the heart of our communities. MIKEYS will also benefit all of the individuals and neighbourhood groups who regularly attend meetings, play sports,vote at their local polling stations, and participate in other special events held on school property.

Mikey’s Kids – The Mikey At Home Program

The Mikey Network has developed the Mikey’s Kids – Mikey at Home Program to allow children who have been diagnosed with a heart disease to go home when they would otherwise have to stay in the hospital. These children would not be able to be discharged from the hospital without receiving a MIKEY defibrillator unit.

Mikey On Board

The Mikey On Board Program is an initiative that provides training and places mobile MIKEY defibrillator units in vehicles that travel throughout local communities on a regular basis, including transport and moving companies. In early 2012, this program was launched with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK_® CANADA to place MIKEYs on all of the company’s moving trucks, and to train the drivers and movers in their use.

Mikey On the GO

GO Transit carries thousands of passengers each day, and having easy-to-access defibrillators on board is another way GO is putting the safety of its passengers first. GO was the first transit system in the Greater Toronto Area to equip its vehicles and facilities with MIKEY defibrillators.

Mikey Cops Are Tops

The Mikey Network is proud to help the brave men and women of the Toronto Police Service by offering a second chance at life to those who experience sudden cardiac arrest. No one knows better than police officers how quickly the unexpected can happen, and how fleeting life can be when it does.

Mikey Goes To Camp

Sending your kids to camp is an annual experience for many Canadian parents. At the same time they can’t help but worry about them being away – often out in a rather remote location – and how long it might take an ambulance to arrive if a medical emergency should happen. Now, everyone at camp can feel more comfortable knowing that a MIKEY defibrillator is close at hand.

May 22, 2015

3 Foods for a Healthy Heart

News & Events

This week’s Fitness Post is brought to you by personal trainer Igor Klibanov from Fitness Solutions Plus.

Do you want to protect your heart? Prevent any kinds of heart disease? Or if you already have some sort of heart disease (like a poor cholesterol profile, high blood pressure, stiff arterties, etc.), want to make it better?

Silly question. Of course, you do.

Because I’m participating in the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike Ride, this article will contain 3 heart-healthy foods.

Garlic

Garlic comes out a winner no matter which way you measure it. Garlic is great for your heart for a number of different reasons. For one thing, it contains allicin, which is a natural chemical that gives it strong antimicrobial and anti-viral properties.

It also contains a lot of sulfur. There is some evidence out there linking sulfur deficiency with heart disease. I personally have my own theory on why garlic works to lower your risk of heart disease. Here it is: we know that stress can increase risk of heart disease. When you eat garlic, you smell so “good”, that people who stress you out don’t want to be around you, so it lowers stress levels. From here on out, this mechanism shall be called “Igor’s hypothesis for garlic-mediated cardiovascular risk attenuation.” You know, because we have to give it some sort of scientific-sounding name to make it sound real. What do you think?

Beans and Lentils

Beans and lentils are one of the richest sources of fibre. Yes, more than broccoli, spinach, etc. And fibre is great for so many different reasons. For one thing, it binds up excess sugar, which prevents your blood sugar from rising as high. When blood sugar rises, and attaches itself to arteries, it decreases the flexibility of the arteries. Fibre also binds toxins. These include things like foreign hormones, heavy metals, and more. All these things can definitely increase cardiovascular risk.

Fish

Especially salmon, sardines, and other small fish. Fish tend to be rich in omega 3. What is it? Omega 3 is an essential fat. What it does is it reduces inflammation in the body. Inflammation is frequently at the root of many chronic conditions, like arthritis, diabetes, and as it pertains to this article, heart disease. I think it might have been invented by terrorists as a method of biological warfare.

May 1, 2015

Hillel donates two MIKEY defibrillators to University of Winnipeg

News & Events

This month, Hillel Winnipeg students donated two “Mikey” Defibrillators to the University of Winnipeg. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex and was attended by over 30 students. In attendance was Brian Daly – CEO of the University of Winnipeg Foundation, Ethelindia Padua – University Health and Safety Specialist, among many other University of Winnipeg staff members. The event was covered the Jewish Post and News (see below), the Winnipeg Jewish Review, and by City TV ( on Breakfast Television). The program included speeches by Brian Daly, Ethelinda Padua, and Hillel students, Maya Pollock and Daniel Kroft.

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Hillel donates two MIKEY defibrillators to University of Winnipeg
by ELAN LEVINE

On Wednesday, April 2nd, Hillel Winnipeg donated two defibrillators to The University of Winnipeg. In honor of the donation a ribbon cutting was held at the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex.

“Hillel came to us and said they wanted to donate,” said Brian Daly, president and CEO of the University of Winnipeg Foundation.
(Daly administers contributions to the university.) “They said they wanted to help save lives,” he said, while making a speech at the ribbon cutting before handing off the microphone to one of his associates.

“One of my responsibilities is ensuring that there is medical assistance here at the university,” explained Ethel Linda, a member of the Health and Safety Department at the University of Winnipeg. “I received a call from Hillel in December, with the possibility of
donating one defibrillator. In January, I received another call from them, and they said they would be donating two,” Linda added.
She went on to explain that in cases of unconsciousness caused by a heart attack or something comparable, use of a defibrillator instead of just CPR increases the chance of survival by 75%.

Hillel member and University of Winnipeg student Maya Pollock noted that the defibrillators were purchased from the Mikey
Foundation, and given to the University of Winnipeg in appreciation of the university’s support of Hillel’s cultural events. (The Mikey Network was established in memory of Mike Salem, who died of a heart attack 12 years ago without access to a defibrillator. The Network promotes heart-healthy living while pushing to increase public access to defibrillators (“Mikeys”). The students of Hillel are making this donation to fulfill part of their mission—to contribute positively to campus life.)

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Daniel Kroft, another member of Hillel, provided a full demonstration of the defibrillators using a volunteer. Kroft stressed the simplicity of the defibrillators.

“They are very easy to operate,” he said. “So easy in fact, that any one over the age of eight is legally capable of using one.” After his demonstration, Kroft invited an untrained passing university student to try to use one of the defibrillators, and they were able to successfully operate it with minimal instruction, saving a hypothetical life in the process.

“We hope these never have to be used,” said Pollock, gesturing to the demonstrations. “But if they ever are, it looks like we’ll be ready. Hillel Winnipeg has actively promoted heart health before, sponsoring an event to raise money and awareness for the Israeli-based charity Save a Child’s Heart, which provides cardiac surgery at no cost for children in under-privileged areas.

“Community work and volunteerism is in line with the Jewish value of tzedakah, the Hebrew term for charity,” explained Josh Winestock, Director of Hillel Winnipeg. “It’s nice to use our time in university to do more than just learn in class, to transform a community we can be a part of.””

April 10, 2015

12 Steps to a Successful Mikey Fundraiser for The Walk of Life

News & Events

You’ve registered for the Walk of Life, but now what? We know you want your fundraising to be as successful as possible, so here are 12 ideas to get you off to great start.

1) MAKE AN ONLINE FUNDRAISING PAGE WITH A GOAL. Did you know fundraisers who create an online donation page with a goal receive more donations than those who only raise offline?

2) MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR OWN PAGE. People are more likely to donate when they see others have contributed. Donating some of your own money also demonstrates you are serious about the cause.

3) PERSONALIZE YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE. Add your own text, pictures or video. Potential donors will be interested in the cause, but more importantly they are interested in you and your involvement.

The Onion Method

The best fundraisers start with “the core” and work outwards.

4) DAY 1: EMAIL 5-10 very close contacts (family and closest friends).

5) DAY 2: EMAIL 10-15 close contacts (inner circle of good friends).

6) DAY 3: EMAIL as many contacts as you feel comfortable with (coworkers, friends of friends, distant relatives, your address book, etc.).

Successful Fundraising Emails

7) Start by explaining your connection to The Mikey Network and why it’s important to you. Describing how this cause has touched your life is the most important part of your message.

8) In a sentence or two, explain the good work The Mikey Network is doing to help raise awareness for heart health and to place AEDs in public spaces.

9) Be clear to potential supporters about what you are looking for. Make a direct ask for financial support. Include a link to your fundraising page. Don’t forget to thank them for their time and support.

Following Up Is Just As Important

10) Reach back out to non-responders when you’re reaching one of your goals, for example, raising enough money to fund a MIKEY.

11) Ask your contacts to help you reach your goal before a specific date.

12) When writing to your contacts, be authentic. If something feels forced, don’t send it. Just be yourself!

April 10, 2015