CMA awards Medal of Honour to David Patchell-Evans

Ottawa, August 10, 2007 - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) will present the 2007 CMA Medal of Honour to David Patchell-Evans, founder of GoodLife Fitness Clubs.

"The CMA Medal of Honour recognizes personal contributions to advancing medical research and education," said CMA President Dr. Colin McMillan. "David Patchell-Evans' dedication to, and efforts on behalf of, helping scientists find a cause and cure for autism is nothing short of inspirational. He is a very worthy recipient of this award."

"I am incredibly humbled to be given this award. I believe that the medical profession is the most under-appreciated, underpaid profession in this country. At the same time, it is the profession that has the highest expectations and the highest level of trust placed on them," said Mr. Patchell-Evans. I will continue on this course as best I can, with the hope that I can continue to fulfill your expectations of me and to be deserving of this great honour."

When his daughter, Kilee, was diagnosed with autism, David Patchell-Evans set into motion an unique research project that promises to have enormous ramifications for autism science and medicine. After meeting neuroscientist Dr. Derrick MacFabe and hearing his thoughts on a possible causal factor in autism, Mr. Patchell-Evans committed more than $1.5 million of his personal resources to fund autism research.

As a result, in 2004 the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group was established at the University of Western Ontario, housed primarily in the Department of Psychology (Neuroscience). A multidisciplinary research team of clinical and basic neuroscientists was assembled along with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research technologists. Their study of autism-associated impairments in brain development, memory, and repetitive and addictive behaviour draws on their expertise in neurotransmitter systems, environmental toxins, sex hormones, dietary and bacterial factors.

In October 2006 the team released intriguing findings that pointed to propionic acid in the digestive system as a possible causal factor. After publication in the peer-reviewed journal Behavioural Brain Research, their paper, "Neurobiological effects of intraventricular propionic acid in rats: Possible role of short chain fatty acids on the pathogenesis and characteristics of autism spectrum disorders," sparked interest around the world.

The UWO team now is collaborating with researchers at several major American institutions, as well as with the Canadian-American Autism Research Consortium and was recently awarded the Top 50 Scientific Discoveries in Canada by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). .

This has all come about because of the vision and generosity of Mr. Patchell-Evans, who has proven that one person from outside the medical profession, can make a meaningful and significant contribution to the advancement of science and medicine.

Canada's most successful fitness entrepreneur, who likes to be called "Patch", discovered his passion for disciplined physical fitness at age 19 while working out to recover from a motorcycle accident. His interest was further fueled while training for Canada's national rowing team and pursuing a university degree in physical education. ; In 1979, Patch dropped out of a masters program in physical education to purchase his first health club with money he made from his snowplowing business. A decade later, he had a chain of 12 fitness centres. He continued to evolve GoodLife opening clubs for women only and developing a range of weight -loss and personal training services.GoodLife Fitness now serves over 350,000 members in 141 locations across Canada.

GoodLife is known for its charitable endeavors, one of which is an initiative to combat childhood obesity. Not only does the company make thousands of charitable gifts in more than 60 communities across Canada and support more than 170 community events, GoodLife staff members volunteer thousands of hours for charitable causes. Mr. Patchell-Evans has offered his own time for the Arthritis Society, the Easter Seals Camp Woodeden, and for athletic events staged to raise funds for foundations for ovarian cancer, spinal cord injury, and children with disabilities.

A respected international speaker, Mr. Patchell-Evans recently became president of the Autism Canada Foundation. In this role he will initiate fundraising for scientific research and public education about autism spectrum disorder, and spearhead public dissemination of the progress and results of scientific research.

David Patchell-Evans is the 24th recipient of the CMA Medal of Honour, the highest award bestowed upon a person who is not a member of the medical profession. He will receive this award at a special ceremony at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, BC on Aug. 22nd as part of the CMA's 140th annual meeting.

(Visit the CMA website at cma.ca for full biographical notes on David Patchell-Evans)