10th Annual Jingle Mingle kicks off fundraising to bring innovative PET-CT scanner to Vancouver Island

VICTORIA, B.C. – The BC Cancer Foundation’s 10th annual Jingle Mingle, presented by Proline Property Management, has raised an incredible $1.74 million to bring state-of-the-art imaging closer to home for patients in need. Thanks to the generosity of guests at this year’s festive and sophisticated evening, funds have been kick started to bring a critical piece of equipment – a PET-CT scanner – to the BC Cancer Agency’s Vancouver Island Centre. This will be the first scanner on the Island and the third in the province. Patients currently have to travel off-island to Vancouver for these essential diagnostic scans.

“This year marks a decade of Jingle Mingle and a decade of generous support that has led to groundbreaking cancer research and care on Vancouver Island, and beyond,” says Lorne Campbell, Jingle Mingle Committee Chair. “On behalf of the committee, we sincerely thank guests, donors and generous businesses for their ongoing support over the last 10 years that have truly made a mark on advancing cancer research and care in our community.”

With more than 300 guests in attendance at Victoria’s Fairmont Empress Hotel, the festive evening began on an exceedingly inspiring note. Guests were astounded when Thrifty Foods made a major commitment of $1 million over three years during the event’s live auction. Thrifty Foods is a longtime supporter of the BC Cancer Foundation and BC Cancer Agency and is inspired by the research taking place in the communities it serves.

“Thrifty Foods is a proud partner of the BC Cancer Foundation, and this year is thrilled to help make possible a tremendous piece of equipment that has a vital need in our community,” says Lorne MacLean, General Manager, Thrifty Foods.

Victoria-resident Miranda Mundel and her family know firsthand what it’s like to travel for a PET-CT scan. Diagnosed with cervical cancer at 41, Miranda had to travel to the Lower Mainland for PET-CT imaging tests that would play an integral part in her treatment plan.

A PET-CT scanner is one of the most useful tools for obtaining a complete picture of a patient’s cancer. Its use has become a standard practice in every stage of cancer care – from diagnosis to treatment planning, to evaluating the effectiveness of treatment. The technology within the scanner is also extremely sensitive, allowing doctors to determine a defined treatment plan and rule out unnecessary therapies, such as surgery, radiation, additional biopsies and tests.

“It will mean the world to patients having a state-of-the-art PET-CT scan closer to home, with less time spent away from family and loved ones,” Mundel says.

Holiday cheer was spread throughout the ballroom all evening as guests enjoyed a live auction, delicious food and cocktails, live entertainment and the chance to purchase a mystery box filled with various gifts donated by local businesses.

The BC Cancer Foundation’s Jingle Mingle has raised over $6.4 million in its 10 year history and has set the fundraising in momentum for Victoria’s very own PET-CT machine to advance care for patients on the Island.

“Jingle Mingle is always a memorable and extraordinary evening, and this year’s 10th annual event was special because it allowed us to reflect on a decade of transformative research and care made possible by the Vancouver Island donor community," says Sarah Roth, President and CEO, BC Cancer Foundation.

The 2016 10th Annual Jingle Mingle has kick-started fundraising for the $5M needed to bring PET-CT to the Island. Thanks to local businesses and community partners, like presenting sponsor Proline Property Management, 100 per cent of the funds raised at Jingle Mingle will go toward the cause.

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Media enquiries: 

Hayley Judge
Communications Specialist
e. hayley.judge@bccancer.bc.ca
t. 604-764-0666

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.