News and Announcements

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Donald and Julia Leung moved to Canada in the 1970s in pursuit of the Canadian dream. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect to give back to the community with a gift of $1.5 million to propel lung cancer research and equipment needs at BC Cancer. Working odd labourer jobs throughout the 1970s, Donald was a motivated young man willing to endure whatever it took to provide...

VANCOUVER, B.C. - On February 4 th , World Cancer Day, BC Cancer will spark a call to action to British Columbians to make cancer a priority by supporting research, care and infrastructure. Last year more than 27,000 British Columbians were diagnosed with cancer. In 15 years, that number will increase to over 40,000. Cancer will impact every family as the ‘1 in 2 Canadians are now expected to...

VICTORIA, B.C. – The BC Cancer Foundation’s 12th annual Jingle Mingle, presented by Thrifty Foods, has raised an incredible $754,000 to underpin critical research on the island in one of the world’s most promising areas of oncology: immunotherapy. Fueled by 350 generous Jingle Mingle guests, the gift of advanced cancer care on Vancouver Island is on its way to patients. Funds will directly...

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Twenty years in the making, a gene mutation in a rare pediatric cancer – discovered by Dr. Poul Sorensen’s lab in 1998 – snowballed into a new drug that has just been approved and targets at least 22 types of cancer. The discovery made two decades ago was driven by Dr. Sorensen’s work to distinguish congenital fibrosarcoma, a rare and deadly type of connective tissue tumour in...

VANCOUVER, B.C. - A new clinical trial, opening across Canada, is considered a major advancement in precision medicine for prostate cancer and the first of its kind in the world. The IND.234 clinical trial, conducted by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), uses liquid biopsy technology to screen for genomic markers in prostate cancer patients. Generous BC Cancer Foundation donors were...

KELOWNA, B.C. – BC Cancer Foundation’s 8 th annual Discovery Luncheon raised an amazing $177,000 to support the Patient and Family Emergency Fund at BC Cancer – Kelowna and help lessen the burden for those facing a cancer diagnosis. “I am always so inspired by the sheer generosity of our donors in Kelowna and across the Interior,” says Sarah Roth, president & CEO, BC Cancer Foundation. “...

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The BC Cancer Foundation announced an extraordinary $4.3 million raised at its sold-out Taj Mahal themed Inspiration Gala on Saturday evening, held at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. These critical funds will support BC Cancer clinicians and scientists as they develop innovative treatment solutions for patients facing blood cancers – leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. With a...

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced $10.23 million in federal funding to build a new nuclear medicine hub – the first-of-its-kind in Canada – at the University of British Columbia (UBC) named The Institute for Advance Medical Isotopes (IAMI). The construction of IAMI is valued at $31.8 million. Other contributors include the province of British Columbia, contributing $...

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Today, the BC Cancer Foundation announced a historic $18.346 million philanthropic grant from the Aqueduct Foundation on behalf of an anonymous donor that aims to transform treatment for people facing metastatic cancer. The funds will fuel a world-leading Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics program at BC Cancer spanning research and development of cutting-edge...

VICTORIA, B.C. – A close-knit friendship has spurred a $250,000 gift to the BC Cancer Foundation that will help advance the latest work in ovarian cancer research. Victoria resident Patty Pitts’ generous gift honours two close friends – Carol Lalonde and Marlene Palmer – who both passed away from the disease. Generously donating money from a recent family inheritance, Patty’s gift established The...