Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour

EXCLUSIVE AUCTION: Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour

Bid now:

Two Tickets to
Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour
7 pm Rogers Centre, Suite
Toronto, Ontario.
Saturday, November 23rd

Tickets donated by grateful patient Derek Bowker.

All proceeds raised will benefit the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) and Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre (TOHRC).

“My trail in life is tough right now... but This Truck Don't Get Stuck. #TTDGS."
- Derek Bowker

That quote pretty much sums up the indomitable spirit of former firefighter and father of two, Derek Bowker.

A firefighter of 26 years, he is now medically retired.

He jokes that his life is a little bit like a sad Taylor Swift song, but that does not stop him from keeping an incredible sense of humour after a very difficult time.

Despite his situation, he is paying forward the incredible kindness that he has received over the past few years.

That is why Derek is auctioning off two Taylor Swift tickets, in a suite, with proceeds going to benefit the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) and Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre (TOHRC).

As Derek shares, “the Heart Institute is the place that saved my life, more than once, and the rehabilitation centre is helping me to live a new life.”

In 2020, Derek was featured as one of our heart month stories with a severe case of Aortic Dissection, a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the aorta of the heart. His aortic system needed to be rebuilt.
Since then, he has undergone a harrowing journey of four more critical operations.

While he recovers at the Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre (TOHRC), adjusting to life as a paraplegic, he decided to auction off his concert tickets.

“It’s karma. I want to raise as much money for these two incredible healthcare services. I would not be here without them.”
Derek continues with a smile, “the trail of life's rough and hard right now, but I'm going to get through it because this truck don't get stuck.”

To watch Derek’s original Heart Month Story with Joel Haslam, please visit:
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/the-rescuer-is-rescued-an-ottawa-firefighter-owes-his-life-to-the-university-of-ottawa-heart-institute-1.5294666?cache=almppngbro%3FclipId%3D373266

Live-saving cardiac care is possible thanks to you.

Since 1976, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) has flourished into Canada’s leading and most distinguished heart health centres for the unparalleled care it provides to its patients, a world-renowned research Institute that brings science from bench to bedside, and the country’s main influencer when it comes to preventing heart disease. Its promise remains the very pillar on which it was built always putting patients first.

Through the generous philanthropic support of individuals, businesses, and foundations, we raise funds that support innovative patient-centred care, ground-breaking research, state-of-the-art-equipment, cardiovascular prevention & rehabilitation patient programs, and education. Together we help an exceptional team of healthcare professionals advance cardiovascular care and save lives every day.