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Grateful family giving back through
Toronto Rehab Foundation

Sun Life Financial gives $1 million to Toronto Rehab Foundation

create Toronto Rehab’s Diabetes College An accidental seven-storey fall six

years ago landed Bryan Tamblyn

Last fall, Sun Life Financial Diabetes College was Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program in Toronto Rehab’s Brain Injury
launched thanks to a $1-million gift to Toronto Rehab and a scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. He Rehabilitation Program. The fall
Foundation’s Where Incredible Happens $100-million led the development of the College. broke most of the bones on the
campaign. An online, interactive resource, it enables Did you know? right side of his torso and several
and inspires individuals to take control of their diabetes • According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, the vertebrae, punctured his lung, and
and overall health through lifestyle changes. prevalence of diabetes is expected to increase by 44 caused a serious brain injury.
The Sun Life Financial Diabetes College offers step-by- per cent by 2025. Once revived from a coma and able to
step instruction on safely engaging in physical activity • People with diabetes are over three times more breathe on his own, Bryan turned to
and learning healthy eating habits, while also providing likely to be hospitalized with cardiovascular disease, Toronto Rehab to get his life back.
information about medication and risk factors. It also 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with end- His team of doctors and therapists
provides lifestyle tools, learning modules in several stage renal disease, and over 20 times more likely helped him re-learn how to speak, In appreciation of Bryan Tamblyn’s “supernatural recovery,” he and his dad, Michael,
languages and healthy-living tips that reflect cultural to be hospitalized for a non-traumatic lower limb walk, and re-circuit his brain as hosted the “Toronto Rehab Shifts Gears” event last fall, raising more than $178,000.
diversity. amputation compared to the general population. part of his recovery. Their skills, (Photo: Toronto Rehab Foundation)

“Through the Sun Life Financial Diabetes College, we’re • The Sun Life Diabetes College represents a new resources, know-how and dedication more than $178,000 in support of the incredible
increasing access to physician-verified information and paradigm emerging in the healthcare field that uses engineered what his family refers to as “Bryan’s care and work at Toronto Rehab.
healthy behaviour programs to individuals regardless technology to improve access to care beyond hospital supernatural recovery.” “It is time for our family to show its gratitude to
of barriers such as geography, financial constraints and walls and into homes and communities. Bryan is now back enjoying the sports he loves Toronto Rehab by helping them raise funds to support
language,” says Dr. Paul Oh, Medical Director of the and advancing in his career. their continuing world-class research and treatment,”

To demonstrate their gratitude, Bryan and his Michael Tamblyn said as he announced plans for
father, Michael, hosted a day on the Canadian Tire the event. “There is nothing more fun than a track
Motorsport Park’s Driver Development Track and day, including autocross and skid pad events, with a
dinner at Five Doors North. This Toronto Rehab dinner that evening, to recognize and celebrate all that
Shifts Gears event on Sept. 30, 2016, raised Toronto Rehab has accomplished.”

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A $1-million gift to Toronto Rehab Foundation’s Where Incredible Happens $100-million campaign
helped launch the Sun Life Financial Diabetes College. (Photo: Toronto Rehab Foundation)

40 Sharpening the Focus at UHN Year in Review 2016 – 2017 41 41