Inspiration Gala raises $2.61 million for families facing hereditary cancer
November 7, 2017
Found in News
VANCOUVER – The annual BC Cancer Foundation’s Inspiration Gala fundraiser today announced $2.61 million was raised Saturday night to support research to advance screening of hereditary cancers in B.C.
Generous donations paired with live and silent auctions to reach the impressive grand total, which will go to support BC Cancer’s Hereditary Cancer Program. The program helps identify those at risk of a hereditary cancer and provides screening, prevention advice and education to individuals, families, and health-care professionals.
Th evening’s total includes a gift of $600,000 by the Chan Family Foundation and $500,000 from Laurie Rix in memory of her late husband Neil Macrae.
“I continue to be inspired by the community’s support of BC Cancer’s incredible team of physicians and researchers, whose compassion and devotion is reflected in ongoing improvements to care and treatment,” says Sarah Roth, president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation. “New discoveries help move the needle in favour of those facing life-threatening cancer diagnoses, and identifying hereditary risk provides opportunities for prevention.”
Emerging research at BC Cancer has proven that hereditary factors account for more cancer diagnoses than previously thought. Recent advances in tumour sequencing confirm that one in 10 advanced cancer diagnoses are potentially linked to a hereditary cancer risk.
“Funds raised at the gala will go towards research to find improvements in how we diagnose and treat hereditary cancers,” says medical geneticist Dr. Intan Schrader, co-lead of the Hereditary Cancer Program. “Thanks to advances in cancer research, we can use genetic testing to identify those at risk and put in place increased surveillance, or consider prophylactic surgeries to prevent their risk of developing certain cancers entirely.”
Gala funds will support the Hereditary Cancer Program team’s study and development of novel ways to better diagnose and treat hereditary cancer patients and their families.
Special thanks to gala committee chair Tamara Taggart and committee members for their commitment and hard work in making this year’s event such a success.
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For more information contact:
Rosalind Duane, Communications Specialist, BC Cancer Foundation
604-707-5907
rosalind.duane@bccancer.bc.ca
