Exceptional Cancer Care fundraising campaign launched in the region

News Release

Today marked an important day for the future of cancer care across Northwestern Ontario. This morning, Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign Chair, Paul Fitzpatrick, announced the launch of a $5.9 million fundraising campaign in support of Regional Cancer Care’s four-year Exceptional Cancer Care Plan.
“Our goal is to help Regional Cancer Care become the best centre in the province for Exceptional Cancer Care,” commented Fitzpatrick. “To do so requires a substantial investment by our community of $5.9 million in order to give patients the best chance possible to survive cancer. Already, thanks to philanthropic leaders across Northwestern Ontario, we have raised $3 million towards our goal.”
The Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign will provide funding in three critical key areas of cancer care: Exceptional Diagnoses, Exceptional Treatment and Exceptional Research. Funds will support key equipment purchases, such as a new CT simulator for radiation therapy planning and diagnosis, state-of-the-art Linear Accelerators for radiation therapy, IV pumps and chairs for superior chemotherapy services across the region, and a new cyclotron that will allow us to make our own radioactive medical imaging isotopes for diagnostic and research purposes.
“When we developed the Exceptional Cancer Care Plan, it was in direct response to our patients’ needs,” said Joanne Lacourciere, Program Director, Regional Cancer Care. “They said ‘find my cancer earlier, speed up the time it takes to diagnose my cancer, and make sure I have the absolute best quality of care available and access to innovative care’. The total cost to implement our plan is $32 million and we are grateful to the present and future donors who will help us make this plan a reality through the Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign.”
“You really don’t realize how important Exceptional Cancer Care is until you need it most,” said Shawn Christie, cancer patient. “From the moment you hear the word cancer, everything is a blur and the journey that follows is tough. Yet, I’m very grateful that I was able to have my treatments here at home. I actually called around to some other cancer centres and they told me that the care here is as good as anywhere in the world. You can’t imagine the peace of mind that gave me.”
“Cancer is a journey we all take, either personally or as we walk alongside a loved one,” added Fitzpatrick. “With each donation to the Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign, we will ensure that nobody makes that journey alone. We aren’t just giving money, we’re giving Hope.”
Donations to the Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign can be made: online at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/ECC, by phone at (807) 345-HOPE (4673), in person at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre or by mail at 980 Oliver Rd. Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4.