(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) — October 30, 2007 — The generosity of western Canadian horse owners has helped the Western College of Veterinary Medicine raise an additional $200,000 for equine health research during the first year of a unique matching gift incentive program.

Half of the funding — $100,000 — came from more than 100 individuals, organizations and companies whose contributions “triggered” a successful match from the fund raising incentive during its first 12 months of operation.

The second $100,000 will come from the Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé Foundation — the organization that initiated the matching gift incentive program in August 2006. The Foundation will provide up to $100,000 per year in matching funds for five years. That gives WCVM the chance to raise an additional $1 million for its equine health research activities by 2011.

“We’re extremely grateful to all donors who increased their annual donations to WCVM’s equine research program — or made their very first contributions in support of the College’s horse health activities,” says Dr. Norman Rawlings, WCVM’s associate dean of research.

Rawlings especially commends the efforts of Patricia and Mark Du Mont —  long-time supporters of the College’s Equine Health Research Fund. In August, the couple from Aldergrove, B.C., donated more than $70,000 to ensure that WCVM maximized the fund raising incentive’s annual “match.” The Du Monts also hope that their contribution will inspire others in the industry to show a greater appreciation for their horses’ well-being by supporting horse health research at WCVM.

Rawlings says the additional funding will support WCVM-based equine health research efforts through the Equine Health Research Fund and through the Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé Veterinary Health and Research Fund. Earlier this year, the veterinary college's 30-year-old equine health fund invested more than $225,000 in horse health research and training programs. The new Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé Veterinary Health and Research Fund made its first research grant announcement in March 2007, awarding $410,000 to three critical research investigations of equine endotoxemia, neonatal Rhodococcus equi pneumonia and genetic ocular disorders. 

For more information about the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's matching gift incentive program for equine health research, please visit http://www.ehrf.usask.ca (click on "Support EHRF"). 

WCVM (www.wcvm.com) is a Canadian centre for veterinary education, expertise and research that’s located on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, Sask. Nearly 400 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at the college that annually attracts more than $10 million in veterinary research funding from public and private sources.