Shoppers Drug Mart campaigns for women's health

Toronto, ON, September 15, 2010 – With more than $13 million raised since 2002, Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation (TSX:SC) will launch its ninth annual Tree of Life fundraising campaign this Saturday September 18, 2010, running until October 15, 2010. Over the four-week campaign, more than 1,180 Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix stores across Canada will raise funds in support of leading local women’s health organizations and charities in the communities they serve.

“The ninth year of the Tree of Life campaign will see 100 per cent of proceeds donated to women’s health organizations, ensuring women have even greater access to the information and resources they need to stay healthy in mind, body and spirit,” said Lisa Gibbs, Manager, Community Investment, Shoppers Drug Mart. “With the commitment and support of our Pharmacist-owners and their teams at store-level, our employees and customers, we are confident that we will reach our goal of raising $2 million to improve the health of women and their families across Canada.”

Held each autumn, the Tree of Life campaign will run from September 18th until October 15th. This year’s campaign will introduce new icons for the “Tree of Life”, which customers have the opportunity to purchase and personalize, including a “leaf” for a loonie, a “butterfly” for $5, or a “cardinal” for $50. The new icons will be prominently displayed on the Tree of Life in all participating stores.

Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix Pharmacist-owners play an active role within their communities, not only providing trusted healthcare advice and services, but also getting to know their patients. Taking into account the needs of the community, each Pharmacist-owner and their store teams personally select a women’s health organization to benefit from the funds raised from the Tree of Life campaign. By partnering with leading women’s health organizations at the national, regional and local levels, Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix is able to provide direct support, ensuring that essential funding, resources and programming are available to meet the needs of Canadian women. In 2010, the Tree of Life campaign will support over 375 Canadian healthcare related charities.

To support this year’s campaign, visit a local participating Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix location and ask a cashier for details. To determine which charity a local Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix store is supporting, customers can visit the store locator section on the Company’s website.
Shoppers Drug Mart’s commitment to women’s health is founded in the belief that when Canadian women are healthy and well, Canada is healthy and well. As the national title sponsor of the Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix Weekend to End Women’s Cancers, in 2010 over 1,000 walkers from Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix stores and regional offices participated in walks held in six major cities nationally. Close to $1.2 million was raised for cancer research and programs through their fundraising efforts, setting a record for the most raised by a corporate team in the eight-year history of this event. Total proceeds for the 2010 walks exceeded 24.7 million thanks to the participation of close to 11,000 walkers.

About Shoppers Drug Mart

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With more than 1,180 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers
in Canada. The Company also licenses or owns more than 59 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and eight luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale. As well, the Company also owns and operates 63 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Alberta.

For more information, visit us at www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

For more information, contact:
Tammy Smitham
Director, Communications & Corporate Affairs
Tel: 416-490-2892
Email: [email protected]