BC Cancer Foundation 2012 Discovery Luncheon advances PREDICT project in the Southern Interior with $60,000

KELOWNA, B.C. – The BC Cancer Foundation 2012 Discovery Luncheon raised an amazing $60,000 to support the Personal Response Determinants in Cancer Therapy (PREDICT) project expanding to the BC Cancer Agency Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior. The PREDICT project is a unique research initiative that will enable more rapid advancements in cancer research and care.

The second annual Discovery Luncheon celebrates the importance of discovery research happening each year in Kelowna at the BC Cancer Agency. Douglas Nelson, President & CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation says, “Research is yielding options for cancer patients and their families like never before; and the PREDICT project will help researchers and clinicians to continue answering critical questions about cancer, in order to advance patient care.”

Under the leadership of Dr. Janine Davies, medical oncologist and PREDICT Principle Investigator at the BC Cancer Agency in Kelowna, the PREDICT project aims to uncover patient factors that influence cancer and the response to cancer treatment. Following the success of the pilot project at the BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Island Centre, Dr. Davies’ team will collect blood samples from newly-diagnosed cancer patients referred to the BC Cancer Agency in the Southern Interior. Participation is voluntary and patients may agree to be contacted about future research projects pertaining to them.

Dr. Davies says, “PREDICT will help make patients part of the solution to the cancer problem by enabling our research to focus on the important questions. It will create a resource of patient information, blood samples, and eventually tumour samples, that can be used by researchers worldwide. These samples will help us to shape future treatment decisions, improving outcomes for patients down the road.“

Don Robertson, cancer patient, shared his cancer story with Luncheon guests. It began in 1994 when a benign tumour was removed from his abdomen; and in 1999 another tumour was found but this time it was cancer. Robertson says he owes his life to cancer research.

“I am here today because someone donated to research that helped find the drug that is keeping me alive. I’m now closer than ever to my wife and I’m able to have more time with our two sons,” Robertson says. “Everyone is so busy today that it is important to remember the impact just one person can make by participating in cancer research and help make a difference.”

With the generous support of 2012 Discovery Luncheon guests, including a donation of $10,000 from the Bank of Montreal in Kelowna, the PREDICT project will help make a difference for patients and families in the Southern Interior for generations to come.

Walter Grey, Mayor, City of Kelowna, concluded the day by officially proclaiming November 14^th as Kelowna’s Discovery Day.

To support the BC Cancer Agency Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior’s PREDICT Project please contact the BC Cancer Foundation at 250.979.6652.

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Media enquiries please contact:

Cynthia Waldek-Peters
Director, Development, Kelowna
BC Cancer Foundation
t. 250.712.3910
c. 250.575.0734
e. cwaldekpeters@bccancer.bc.ca

Allison Colina
Communications Specialist
BC Cancer Foundation
t. 604.707.5934
e. allison.colina@bccancer.bc.ca

The BC Cancer Foundation is the bridge that connects philanthropic support and research breakthroughs in cancer knowledge.  As the fundraising partner of the BC Cancer Agency and the largest charitable funder of cancer research in this province, we enable donors to make contributions to leading-edge research that has a direct impact on improvements to cancer care for patients in British Columbia. We fund with the goal of finding solutions. Visit www.bccancerfoundation.com to make a donation or to learn how you can make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. For more information, visit www.bccancer.ca.