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2006 news highlights from the BC Cancer Foundation
Cycling legend Eddy Merckx and his Kelowna-based son Axel Merckx raise $100,000 for breast and testicular cancer
Colleen Cross, a Kelowna grandmother, decided to fight her breast cancer with world-class fundraising. Her famous son-in-law is Olympic medalist and Tour de France cycling racer Axel Merckx. His father, legend¬ary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx, holds more cycling records than anyone in the world, including Lance Armstrong. Together they headlined Team Wedgewood’s sold-out Evening of Champions that raised over $100,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation. Proceeds were shared between breast cancer programs at the BC Cancer Agency’s Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna and research into testicular cancer province-wide.
Western Economic Diversification Canada provides $420,000 to purchase PET scanner, improve early detection and develop new therapies
With $420,000 provided to the BC Cancer Foundation by Western Economic Diversification Canada, the BC Cancer Agency will purchase a Micro-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner to help researchers understand cancer expression in cells, the effect of treatment on expression, and design new therapies.
1,000 walker/runners raise half a million dollars in first annual BC Cancer Foundation’s The Underwear Affair
The BC Cancer Foundation’s The Underwear Affair raised funds and awareness for cancers below the waist – which account for 38 per cent of all newly-diagnosed cancers and 25 per cent of all cancer deaths in B.C. Participants in the 10-kilometre run/5-kilometre walk through Vancouver raised $500,000 to support prevention and early detection at the BC Cancer Agency of the seven below-the-belt cancers, including ovarian, uterine, colorectal, prostate, testicular, cervical and bladder cancer. For more info or to join us July 7, 2007 visit www.uncoverthecure.org or call (604) 734-CURE.
Third annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer raises $5.5 million
2,105 participants raised $5.5 million in The Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting BC Cancer Foundation, August 18 – 20. The two-day, 60-kilometre walk through Vancouver streets in support of breast cancer research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer Agency has raised over $17 million to date. The fourth Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting BC Cancer Foundation is already planned for August 17 – 19, 2007. To register or for more information visit www.endcancer.ca or call (604) 684-WALK.
Walk for Lifeline 2006 raises over $100,000 for leukemia research
The Lifeline Society’s fundraising walk held July 2nd in Vancouver was a resounding success that raised over $101,200 for the BC Cancer Foundation in support of leukemia research at the BC Cancer Agency. Leukemia survivor Marissa Pena and her husband Tony and many friends organized the walk, which was their second fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation. Lifeline Society raises funds and also awareness of the need for bone marrow donors.
BC Cancer Agency hosts first international workshop for members of Weekend to End Breast Cancer network
The inaugural Weekend to End Breast Cancer International Workshop, held June 6th in Vancouver, brought together 22 leading scientists in the field of breast cancer research from across Canada and the UK for a one-day exchange of ideas and discussion of research initiatives. These researchers, whose work is supported by The Weekend to End Breast Cancer network across Canada and The Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer network in the UK, launched an international dialogue on the progress of breast cancer research and treatment.
BC Cancer Foundation Vancouver Island receives $1 million for early detection of ovarian cancer and launches first soap box derby
Canadian-born philanthropist Don Listwin donated $1 million from his U.S.-based Canary Foundation to the BC Cancer Foundation, to fund ovarian cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency’s Trev & Joyce Deeley Research Centre in Victoria. The donation links the Agency to a unique, collaborative, multi-institute research initiative funded by the Canary Foundation, seeking to create a simple blood test to screen women for ovarian cancer early enough to boost survival and cure rates. The Canary Foundation’s first Canadian fundraiser – a soap box derby for adults – later raised another $50,000 for the research project.
Northern B.C. couple change their lives with $1.6 million Vancouver Island Prize Home win in BC Cancer Foundation’s Lifestyles Lottery
Prince George resident Linda Drummond and her husband Gordon won the $1.6 million 2nd grand prize, a home at Bear Mountain Estates and Country Club near Victoria, plus $10,000 cash. The couple and their two children began their new lifestyle when they moved into their fully furnished home. Maurice Walford of Victoria won the 1st grand prize, a $2.3 million home in West Vancouver, a BMW sports car and $25,000. The BC Cancer Foundation Lifestyles Lottery has raised over $12 million to support cancer research through the BC Cancer Agency. Visit www.lifestyleslottery.com for info.
Bone Marrow Transplant Outreach Clinic launched in Kelowna thanks to Sindi Hawkins and friends
BC Cancer Agency bone marrow transplant patients in the Southern Interior no longer have to travel to Vancouver for all their follow-up visits, thanks to funds raised for the BC Cancer Foundation by the Sindi Hawkins and Friends annual golf tournament. Sindi, a bone marrow transplant recipient herself, has com¬mitted $250,000 from the tournament proceeds to fund physician travel to the outreach clinics. The first local patients were seen in October 2005 in Kelowna.
Saving time and travel for up-Island cancer patients – TeleCare launched with BC Lions / Lioness fundraising
A new BC Cancer Agency program called TeleCare, supported by Lions and Lioness Clubs across Vancouver Island through donations to the BC Cancer Foundation, means Island cancer patients can consult face-to-face with their specialists, without having to leave their home communities. TeleCare was developed by the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre in partnership with the Vancouver Island Health Authority and allows doctors and patients to meet with cancer specialists in Victoria by video link. The first TeleCare units will connect the communities of Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Comox, Campbell River and Port Hardy/Port McNeil with the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre in Victoria.
Southern Interior launches Hospice Campaign
The BC Cancer Foundation, Southern Interior, together with the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and the Central Okanagan Hospice Association, launched a $3 million community campaign to fund and build a $7 million, 24-bed, free-standing hospice near downtown Kelowna, on part of the historic homestead of former B.C. Premier W.A.C. Bennett. The first donation was presented to the fundraising partnership on May 26, 2006.
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