Mr. Ross Smith, President and CEO of AON Inc., presented a Cybex treadmill, valued at $7,900 to Bonnie Patterson, President of Trent University at a special ceremony today at Trent's Athletics Centre.

AON Inc. announced that the donation symbolizes its commitment to youth, seniors and healthy communities. The treadmill equipment is an integral part of exercise programs AON offers under the direction of Susan Simmons, Health and Wellness Co-ordinator at The Gardens of Peterborough, the company's active retirement living residences.

"A key mission of AON is to build healthier communities," says Smith. "As part of this focus, our company has assumed a leadership role to create quality retirement residences that co-exist with health care services."

Smith adds the highly popular joint Nursing program at Trent inspired the company to make the donation. "Studies show six weeks of intensive seniors exercise can increase muscle strength up to 70 per cent thereby preventing falls and maintaining balance," says Smith. "Linking the athletics training at Trent, together with the university's Nursing program and AON, creates a powerful partnership."

Accepting the donation on behalf of the Athletics Centre, Bonnie Patterson praised the company's initiative. "On behalf of our students who will receive immediate benefits from the equipment I want to pay tribute to Ross Smith and AON for their support. His generous gift will augment our university's fitness programs and holds the potential of making special connections to our academic programs." Patterson adds that enrolment in the Nursing program has been extremely strong and that the program's future graduates will play a key role in addressing the nation's nursing shortage and need for trained health care professionals to care for an aging society.

Paul Wilson, Director of Athletics notes that the Cybex treadmill will provide key benefits to students. "This high quality piece of equipment will be of tremendous benefit to a wide range of students, from the elite athlete to the casual user plus our community members who make use of our facilities through the partnership with Glen Millar Athletic Consultants."

AON is a privately owned family business employing over 300 staff involved in the management of active retirement communities, more than 1,000 rental units in the local region, commercial real estate and land development, construction and golf facilities.

The highly successful Trent University - Sir Sandford Fleming Nursing program has an enrolment of 102 students in its first year.