Pictured: Brianna Murugiah – a 9-year-old that has been fighting cancer for over 7 years.
Ottawa—October 21, 2021 — The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation announces that their virtual Cancer Champions Breakfast has raised over $790,000 in support of local Cancer Coaching, cancer research, and clinical trials.
Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation turned their yearly Breakfast into a virtual event. Due to the fourth wave, the Breakfast remained a virtual event for the safety of their guests and staff.
Hosted by former CBC Ottawa host Lucy van Oldenbarneveld, the virtual Breakfast premiered a powerful documentary that featured local cancer patients as well as one of Canada’s top cancer researchers.
The goal of the event was to engage the wider community and raise funds for local cancer priorities. Over 600 people came together and showed their support for such an important cause.
“I’m incredibly proud of this wonderful community each and every day, but especially today,” says Ian Sherman, recently retired Tax Partner and now a Contractor in the EY Ottawa office and a co-chair of the Cancer Champions Breakfast. “My biggest thanks go out to our donors, our sponsors, our Leadership Council, and our Table Captains. With over 80,000 Canadians expected to die of cancer this year alone, we know we need to make sure that local cancer priorities remain a huge priority, and I think this morning we’ve worked together to do just that”.
“We are incredibly touched by the community’s support, especially at a time when so many local causes are in great need,” says Paula Muldoon, Vice-President of Development and Community Engagement at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. “Hospitals are about to face a tsunami of cancer patients needing care due to the backlog caused by the pandemic. The funds raised at the Breakfast will make a big impact in helping hospitals ease that burden. Our work not only funds the research and clinical trials that patients need, but we also provide Cancer Coaching to help patients and families during this difficult experience.”
The event’s highlight was a 30-minute documentary that featured an important message from Dr. Rebecca Auer, the Scientific Director of the Cancer Therapeutics Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. It also featured patients from the Ottawa area who shared their cancer journeys and their hope for the future of cancer care.
At the end of the event, guests were treated to the exciting launch of The Cancer Project. The Cancer Project is a virtual platform where the public can share their cancer stories. Whether they have faced a diagnosis, walked alongside a loved one on their journey, or are remembering a life lost, The Cancer Project is their platform.
The Cancer Champions Breakfast was sponsored by Presenting Sponsor BMO, Corporate Sponsor Valecraft Homes, Premium Sponsors Assante Wealth, and Joe Clark & Associates. Associate Sponsors were Crowe BGK, Emond Harnden LLP, Extend Pharmacy, Horizant Solutions, and Merovitz Potechin. Supporting sponsors were Alterna, BioCanRX, Centennial Glass, Duane Francis Wealth Management, Giamberardino Contracting, Hendry Warren LLP, Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP, WCPD Foundation, and Zibi.
For more information, please contact:
David Fodrek, Communications and Marketing Officer
Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
Office: 613-247-1920 ext. 220
dfodrek@ottawacaner.ca
About the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is the voice for cancer survivorship in Eastern Ontario, and a leader in our community in providing local residents with increased access to person-centred care through Cancer Coaching, innovative cancer research and a world-class clinical trials program. For more information, please visit www.ottawacancer.ca.
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