MONTREAL - Montreal Canadiens defenceman PK Subban and former Hab Georges Laraque are headed to Haiti today to help raise money following last year's earthquake.
The duo, who are flying out of Trudeau Airport this morning, are planning to visit a children's hospital in Port-au-Prince that was badly damaged in the tremor.
The reconstruction of the hospital is being funded in part by Hockey for Haiti, a fundraising project initiated by Laraque, who is of Haitian descent, along with the National Hockey League Players' Association and World Vision Canada.
Hockey for Haiti has so far raised $1.3 million towards the reconstruction of Grace Children's Hospital.
Critically damaged by the January 2010 earthquake, the hospital is one of Haiti's leading treatment facilities for children with HIV, tuberculosis, and other respiratory illnesses.
According to World Vision Canada, its services have been made even more critical since the quake, as TB spreads through prolonged exposure in close quarters such as the tent camps where thousands of Haitian families still live.
Temporary inpatient and outpatient facilities are now up and running thanks to the fundraising efforts, with hospital staff treating up to 300 patients daily. But there World Vision Canada says there is still an urgent need to rebuild the main facility.
Subban and Laraque will be in Haiti until July 7.
To learn more about the project or make a donation, visit World Vision Canada's website.
