Remembering a Champion of Cancer Care: Avtar Singh Virdi
August 2, 2024
Found in Chemotherapy, General
B.C.’s Fraser region is mourning the loss of beloved community leader, life-long teacher and generous philanthropist, Professor Avtar Singh Virdi.
Having faced cancer twice, Avtar, 58, was a tireless advocate for increasing access to cancer treatment in Surrey. Motivated by Terry Fox, and his belief that we can all make a difference, Avtar set out on his own cross-country journey in 2022 raising an incredible $50,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation.
His selfless and noble actions inspired a local philanthropist, Manjit Lit, to contribute $100,000 to launch a matching campaign that brought together community and business leaders in the Fraser region. Together, they rallied their community to contribute over $260,000 towards the Foundation’s campaign to raise $1 million in support of a new chemotherapy suite expansion at BC Cancer – Surrey.
Thanks in large part to Avtar and his dedicated team, the now completed campaign will increase Surrey’s capacity to deliver chemotherapy treatments by 700-900 infusions a month, significantly reducing wait times for patients.
“The passing of Avtar Virdi is devastating to all of us at the BC Cancer Foundation, particularly for those of us in the Fraser region who had the privilege of working closely with him,” says BC Cancer Foundation Executive Director, Fraser Region, Kristina Lebed.
“Avtar’s immense contributions to advancing cancer care in Surrey have been nothing short of transformative, and it was an honour to work alongside him. While he is no longer with us, the collaborative efforts he championed to expand chemotherapy services in Surrey will persist, delivering life-saving treatment to countless families in the surrounding communities.”
“His radiant smile and unwavering optimism will also be remembered, and his enduring legacy will continue to inspire hope in patients and their loved ones for years to come.”
Passionate about helping new immigrants learn English through the school he founded, GTP Marvelous College, and an online guide and tutorials, Avtar was also an ardent believer in giving back to improve health care in Canada.
Even during his final days in hospital, he persisted to push for advances to cancer care in B.C., saying, “Friends, we moved to Canada for the best things in the world. Our fight for a better health system is of gigantic dimensions. Think about yourself and your children.”
