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Funds from The Weekend to End Breast Cancer help attract top cancer recruit from UK
The Weekend to End Breast Cancer cited as Dr. Sam Aparicio's deciding factor in his recent move to Vancouver
March 08 , 2005, Vancouver, B.C - The BC Cancer Foundation announced today their successful recruitment of Dr. Sam Aparicio, an internationally renowned scientist, to lead the breast cancer research program at BC Cancer Agency and assume UBC chair appointment.
This is also a very exciting announcement for supporters of The Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation as past and future proceeds from the event have and will be used to support Dr. Aparicio's work. The focus of Dr. Aparicio's research program will be using genetics to better understand the development of breast cancer, to help devise improved detection methods, and identify new therapies. He comments, "We couldn't begin to function without this support. The generous donations to the BC Cancer Foundation's Weekend to End Breast Cancer are fundamental to our work and this huge potential was the single biggest factor in clinching my decision to move to Vancouver. I will be walking this year, and I encourage everyone to join me in the fight to end this disease by visiting www.endcancer.ca."
Mary McNeil, president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation, confirms that the Foundation's Weekend to End Breast Cancer was essential to the almost $14 million commitment to fund Dr. Aparicio's research "We are grateful to be in a position to help bring Dr. Aparicio to British Columbia. The efforts of the brave women and men who spent months training and fundraising in order to be a part of The Weekend to End Breast Cancer are monumental, and we're proud to be able to deliver on our promise to them and their generous donors to help bring us all closer to the end of breast cancer."
"Having walked in the event last year, I could only dream that such a result could come from my participation," says Olivia Panis, event participant and Vancouver resident, who has also undergone treatment for breast cancer at the BC Cancer Agency. "I'll be walking again this year, and thanks to this announcement, I can tell my family and friends who have been so generous in supporting me that their hard-earned donations will be going to a groundbreaking research program right here in BC. They are responsible for giving me the strength to continue to participate in the event; which has helped me in building a better place to live and a better way to live in it".
The annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation in Vancouver takes place August 19-21, 2005 and Dr. Aparicio will show his support by joining the thousands of women and men who will unite for one weekend by participating in the 60 kilometer, 2 day event.
About The Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation
During one amazing weekend, August 19-21, 2005, thousands of women and men will unite in Vancouver to walk 60 kilometres in a bold display of courage and commitment. It's a weekend of hope, as we honour lives lost, celebrate survivors, and help bring breast cancer care to those who so desperately need it. The money you help raise will save lives by supporting critical breast cancer research and care. One week-end can change the world. For more information please visit www.endcancer.ca or call (604) 684-9255.
About the BC Cancer Foundation:
Established in 1935, the BC Cancer Foundation is an independent charitable organization that raises funds to support research and care through the BC Cancer Agency. With offices in each of the Agency's four cancer centres in the Fraser Valley, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria, the BC Cancer Foundation is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in B.C.
For more information contact:
Penny Noble, BC Cancer Foundation
604.707.5902
pnoble@bccancer.bc.ca
Shannon Kennedy, The Weekend to End Breast Cancer
403.280.9255
skennedy@endcancer.ca
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