June 8, 2015 | Alberta

EDMONTON, AB – June 16, 2015 – Last week, CDI College’s Massage Therapy students raised $7,000 at their 3^rd Annual Charity Massage-a-Thon event in support of “A Safe Place,” a local shelter for abused women and children.

Driven by a passion for making a difference in their community, the students and instructors provided hundreds of massage treatments over the course of 10 hours to raise awareness and funds for this amazing cause.

Nearly 40 students from the Massage Therapy program and their instructors put their training and skills to use, providing patrons with 20-minute massages for a minimum donation of $10.00. Response to the Massage-a-Thon was overwhelming from the start with line-ups forming outside the clinic well before the event started.

“As the students and staff arrived, the buzz and excitement was out of control,” said Celena Voshall, the Massage Therapy instructor for the Edmonton North campus. “The teamwork was amazing!”

Along with massages, patrons could also bid on items in a silent auction, purchase pastries and burgers at the bake sale and barbeque lunch, or participate at the dunk tank.

Massage therapists spend most of their days working on their feet, which can be strenuous on the lower body as well as their hands, but “the energy was so high in excitement that it was impossible to feel tired,” reported Voshall. “Plus, dunking their teachers sure gave [the students] an energy boost!”

Attendees to the event included former NHL player Kyle Rossiter who also signed hockey pucks patrons purchased for a donation; Cruz FM Morning Show DJ Lochlin Cross who selflessly volunteered himself for the dunk tank; and various businesses in the area.

“Each year, over 300 women along with over 400 of their children come to our shelter,” says Jean Cremer, one of the Volunteer Coordinators at the shelter who also attended the event. “Sadly, we turn away as many as we serve simply because our beds are full.” Proceeds from this year’s fundraising event will help the shelter upgrade its facilities and maintain “a healthy and safe environment for our women and children.”

Originally conceived by the Massage Therapy class three years ago, the tradition has continued into its third season and is has attracted many charitable sponsors around the community who, over the years, have generously donated items to support the event. CDI College’s Massage Therapy students have a history of providing their professional services to other charitable organizations. In 2013, the 1^st Annual Massage-a-Thon, proceeds were donated to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and in 2014, to the Kids Kottage Foundation.