$21.4 Million gift makes philanthropic history in B.C. thanks to Jambor-McCarthy legacy

I am extremely excited to share news with you of a historic announcement: on May 24th, the BC Cancer Foundation announced the largest charitable bequest to a single beneficiary in British Columbia’s history. The late John Jambor gifted the astounding $21.4 million Jambor-McCarthy legacy to the BC Cancer Foundation, together with William P.J. McCarthy, Jambor’s grandson, and executor of his estate.

We are truly honoured and grateful for the Jambor-McCarthy legacy, and the good news has been travelling fast: you may have already read, seen or heard about it in the news, including; CBC, Global TV, CTV, Fairchild TV, or read about it in the Vancouver Sun, The Province, Ming Tao Daily, Business in Vancouver and many others.

The Jambor-McCarthy legacy will accelerate improvements in cancer outcomes and improve the long-term health and wellness of thousands of cancer patients with a $15 million permanent endowment for cancer research and education, the $5 million William P.J. McCarthy Chair of Cancer Research at the BC Cancer Agency, as well as $1.4 million in support of community cancer care.

John Jambor’s generosity, built on the principles he lived by—work hard, live well, give back—has truly set an example for others of what can be achieved through the partnership of philanthropy and research.

I invite you to read more about the announcement here, and please be sure to watch our special Jambor-McCarthy legacy recognition video on the same page link.

In addition to this exciting announcement, there are some other important updates in the newsletter below, including information about our upcoming events, a link to our new Vim & Vigour issue and an introduction to our June guest blogger who is taking part in the upcoming Ride to Conquer Cancer later this month.

Thank you for being our partner in discovery.

Douglas Nelson
President & CEO
BC Cancer Foundation 

Anita Cochrane 5th Annual Memorial “Saving the Girls” Golf Tournament
 

The Anita Cochrane Memorial “Saving the Girls” Golf Tournament is in its fifth year supporting the BC Cancer Foundation and research happening at the BC Cancer Agency. The event is held in memory and honour of Anita Cochrane, mentor, friend, and wife, who made fundraising her mission in life. Anita’s passion for cancer research and support of the BC Cancer Foundation was just part of her legacy.

Join her friends and family at this year’s tournament on Friday, July 13, 2012 at Green Acres Golf Course in Richmond, B.C. The event will include a caddy auction, dinner and awards, and key-note speech by Lynda Peterson, a two-time cancer survivor who will share her experience with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

For more information about the event or to make a donation, please visit our website here.

BC Cancer Foundations Supports pan-Canadian team in Glioblastoma Research

Hailed as a “dream team” with some of the country’s top minds in cancer research—this pan-Canadian research group will harness talent and technologies to find new treatments for glioblastoma, the most common and deadly form of brain cancer among adults.

The project is supported by a collective $8.2 million investment from The Terry Fox Research Institute, The Terry Fox Foundation, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Genome Canada, Genome BC and the BC Cancer Foundation.

The investment, one of the largest ever made in Canada to research glioblastoma, will give hope to the approximately 2,600 Canadians annually who face an uncertain future when they are diagnosed with the disease. With current treatment, survival is about 15 months.

Dr. Marco Marra will lead genome analysis at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre while colleagues in the clinic will run clinical trials in collaboration with groups across Canada. The goal is to identify new drugs to test in the clinic on different brain tumour subtypes, advancing toward personalizing treatment for this form of cancer.

You can also read more about the research in this CTV article. 

Gearing up for Jingle Mingle on Vancouver Island

Our annual Jingle Mingle event is still several months away and the buzz is already in the air thanks to Victoria Hyundai’s generous donation of a car for this year’s auction. That’s our President & CEO Douglas Nelson testing out the driver’s seat in the picture below. Those of you who live on Vancouver Island might spot the car around town as we continue to collect auction items and prepare for this year’s event. For more information about the Jingle Mingle event and how you can donate or get involved, please visit our website at www.BCCancerFoundation.com/JingleMingle.