Road to Gold Paved with Hemp Seeds? Local Athlete Nathan Gafuik Boosted by Healthy Sponsorship

June 25, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CALGARY – Can hemp seeds, flax, oats and Callebaut chocolate help a local gymnist reach the Olympic podium? Nathan Gafuik believes firmly that they can, as he becomes one of two future Olympians who will be powered this year with a Planet Organic Markets Cosmic Cookie Sponsorship. Nathan, 24, will receive $400 worth of organic groceries each month for the next year, which will help fuel his Olympic dreams and take him another step closer to the podium. Nathan says he is impressed that Planet Organic offers this type of support to Canadian Athletes. “I think good nutrition and clean eating is a vital element in physical preparation for elite athletics but also because funding for the basics sometimes falls through the cracks.” For Nathan, this couldn’t be more important. He has a medical condition called Addison’s Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the adrenal gland. His diet must be healthy, and of high quality. This is the third year for the Planet Organic Markets Cosmic Cookie Sponsorship. Co-founder Diane Shaskin says she is proud to help support Canada’s athletes in their goals. The other sponsorship goes to track and field athlete Leanna MacLean of Halifax. “What could be more important than providing healthy, nutritious food for our athletes?” she said. “We were very impressed with Nathan’s dedication, accomplishments and his obvious talent, and that’s why we chose to support him.” Nathan must not only train hard, he must be equally dedicated at maintaining the level of support he needs to stay on the road to the Olympics. “The Planet Organic sponsorship will be an incredible support to me as I step up my training on the road to the 2012 Olympics.” Nathan will shop for his groceries at the Planet Organic Market in Calgary. Nathan is an all-around gymnast who has been competing for 17 years. He competed in the 2008 Olympics where he placed 17th. In 2006 at the Pacific Alliance competition in Hawaii, Nathan was 1st on the high bar and 2nd on the vault. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia, the team placed first and Nathan was 2nd all around; 2nd on the vault; 6th on the parallel bars and 6th on the high bar. Nathan was named 2001 Male Artistic Athlete of the Year by the Alberta Gymnastics Federation and 2007 Men’s Artistic Gymnast Athlete of the Year by Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique. His goal is for a strong performance at the world championships in London this fall, and to represent Canada at the Olympics in 2012. What’s the cookie connection? The original Cosmic Cookie athlete was 2004 Olympic gold medal cyclist Lori-Ann Muenzer of Edmonton, who said the cookies were the one treat she allowed herself. The Cosmic Cookie is a Planet Organic Markets original recipe made. A hot seller that’s been endorsed by both amateur and professional athletes – “we can’t bake them fast enough” – the cookies sell by the thousands each week in stores across the country. The recipe is available in the Planet Organic Cookbook – available through www.planetorganic.ca - 30 - Media contact: Diane Shaskin / Co-Founder Planet Organic Markets Phone: 250-727-0867 dshaskin@planetorganic.ca INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN GAFUIK What does the sponsorship mean to you, and how will it help you? “I have to work really hard to stay healthy because of Addison’s Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the adrenal gland. I need to have good food, plenty of rest and so on. In the period up to the Beijing Olympics I worked with a nutritionist to make sure my diet was well balanced and I have been trying to eat organic as much as possible. The sponsorship will give me the opportunity to shop for healthier and higher quality products without worrying about a budget as much. I have just moved out on my own for the first time so it will help relieve some of the stress while keeping up on a healthy diet.”   When is your next competition? “This year the World Championships are October 13th-18th and will be held in London. The exact name is the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2009, and I will be competing with my team there.” What are your favourite foods to shop for at Planet Organic Market? “I have always liked the selection of fruit and vegetables that Planet Organic offers. There is always something a little different to choose from and they’re of a much higher quality. I also like the mixed nuts, which I use as a snack when I travel to competitions.”