2026 Catalyst Award: Momentum that Moves Cancer Care Forward

This Lunar New Year, we celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse, a powerful symbol of momentum, bold action and continual forward movement.

This same energy reflects the values of the BC Cancer Foundation’s Catalyst Award, which honours individuals who make an outstanding contribution of time, leadership or financial support to help advance research and care at BC Cancer.

Catalyst for Progress

The Foundation is proud to present the 2026 Catalyst Award to Ben Yeung and Jane Young. The siblings exemplify extraordinary leadership whose enduring support continues to propel breakthroughs forward for families across B.C.

“Ben and I accept this award with gratitude, inspired by how far cancer care has come and filled with optimism for an even brighter future for every family who may one day face a cancer journey,” says Jane.

Their commitment to BC Cancer is rooted in their family’s own experience. Inspired by their late parents’ legacy of giving back, Ben and Jane have long been dedicated to advancing cancer research and care. Both their mother, Rose, and Jane received treatment for breast cancer at BC Cancer, shaping the family’s deep connection to this work.

Jane has been a dedicated donor for more than 20 years and served on the Foundation’s board from 2012 to 2016. She also founded Hope Couture, an annual fashion show and luncheon which helped raise funds for cancer research initiatives.

Ben shares a deep commitment to community service. He has served on multiple boards and has been recognized for his impact, including being named one of the Top 100 Influential Chinese Canadians in B.C. by the Vancouver Sun in 2006 and receiving the Senate 150 Anniversary Medal in 2019.

In 2025, the family deepened their support for the Foundation with a remarkable $1 million gift. Peterson, the company founded by Ben and Jane’s parents, and the Yeung family matched donations dollar-for-dollar in support of the Foundation’s Technology Transformation campaign.

The Future of Cancer Care in B.C.

In response to a projected 33% rise in cancer cases in B.C. over the next decade, the Foundation launched the $50 million Technology Transformation fundraising campaign to equip BC Cancer with the latest, state-of-the-art technology.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like Ben and Jane, the campaign has already brought groundbreaking technologies to BC Cancer patients, including Canada’s first Photon Counting CT scanner, a first-in-Canada Next-Generation PET/CT scanner and a Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) unit — with more on the horizon.

Jane understands the impact of these advancements on a deeply personal level. When she underwent a PET scan during her diagnosis, the process took more than an hour. Today, with the new Next-Generation PET/CT scanner, the same imaging can be completed in as little as two minutes. Jane shares that she is in awe of the pace of innovation and what it means for people facing cancer now. “Donor generosity translates into more options, time and milestones celebrated.”

These leading-edge imaging, diagnostic and radiation technologies will enable clinicians to provide faster answers and better outcomes for patients and their families. “This is a powerful leap forward in precision oncology and it’s only possible because of the generosity of donors,” says Dr. François Bénard, BC Cancer’s senior executive director of research.

Igniting Action

Ben and Jane hope their family’s story will inspire others to support British Columbians facing cancer.

“We really believe in the ripple effect,” they share. “Individual stones we throw in the water may be small but the ripples they produce travel great distances.”

Momentum in cancer care is driven by people who believe in what’s possible and step forward to turn hope into action.

“We need hope in life because it’s what keeps us moving forward, even when the path is uncertain or difficult,” says Jane. “Hope gives you the courage to take the next step.”