One by One
MitoCanada Foundation, Recipient

MitoCanada Foundation

Oakville, Ontario

Rare condition, real impact

Mitochondria are like the batteries in our cells that provide our bodies with the energy we need to live. When someone has mitochondrial disease, it means those batteries don’t work properly—and they could suffer a power failure in the organ systems that sustain life.

Mitochondrial disease is a broad term that covers over 400 mitochondrial disorders and syndromes but generally refers to mutations or dysfunctions in the mitochondria. Common symptoms include muscle weakness, exercise intolerance and excessive exhaustion, but can vary from mild to life-threatening. It’s estimated that about one in every 4,000 people has a mitochondrial disease, yet due to the complexity in diagnosis, only about 10% of patients ever receive a diagnosis.

Providing support across Canada

MitoCanada Foundation is celebrating 15 years of helping Canadians impacted by the little-known disease. “We’re dedicated to energizing and supporting anyone who is living with mitochondrial disease,” said Emily Ing, director of donor and community engagement. “And I say ‘living with,’ because we’re not just helping those with the diagnosis but also supporting family members and caregivers.”

The foundation carries out its mission through four focus areas: research, education, support and awareness. Its impact covers everything from educating the public about mitochondrial disease and helping families understand a new diagnosis to providing scholarships for students living with the disease.

Useful promo items boost the brand

Throughout the year, the organization hosts a variety of events to raise money, increase awareness and educate the public. During World Mitochondrial Disease Week in September, the team held its 10th annual Walk N’ Roll 4 Mito event, which raised nearly $50,000 for the cause. Taking place in several locations across Canada, the event unites hundreds of people with the same goal: ensure all lives are powered by healthy mitochondria.

A one by one grant provided tubes of lip balm for the MitoCanada Foundation team to include in small welcome packs given to participants. The event promo items were sent to the various Walk N’ Roll 4 Mito locations, so everyone got in on the brand-boosting action. “A big thing for us is raising awareness,” Ing said. “We’re not like the other big organizations that everybody knows or focused on a health condition everybody understands. We’re always educating people on what MitoCanada is and what mitochondrial disease is.”

A note from Cheryl

MitoCanada Foundation does important work to spread the word about a condition that, while rare, impacts millions of people worldwide. We were proud to provide event promo items to help support its mission. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.ca.

For more information about MitoCanada Foundation, please visit https://mitocanada.org/

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