HALIFAX, NS, Sept. 25, 2023 /CNW/ – BMO Experience for Most cancers reached a historic milestone this weekend as Atlantic Canada’s largest biking fundraising occasion celebrated over $10 million internet raised since 2015 for native most cancers care.
The annual occasion – which befell on Saturday, September 23 – was compelled to pivot resulting from path and street damages from the latest post-tropical storm Lee; cancelling the biking part for the primary time in its nine-year historical past. Regardless of this impediment, the BMO Experience for Most cancers neighborhood rallied like by no means earlier than – elevating a record-breaking $2,372,669 million internet in 2023.
These funds imply the ninth annual BMO Experience for Most cancers occasion has totally funded Atlantic Canada’s first and solely CAR-T remedy lab on the QEII Well being Sciences Centre. This revolutionary and lifesaving immunotherapy is a ultimate lifeline and potential treatment for sure blood most cancers sufferers who’ve tried all different remedy choices.
1,200 people, together with members, their family members and occasion volunteers, got here collectively for an in-person BMO Experience Celebration Pageant on Saturday at occasion grounds (Hobsons Lake Drive, Bayers Lake) – recognizing the unimaginable efforts of the neighborhood and the life-changing affect it’s going to have on Atlantic Canadians dealing with a most cancers analysis.
- BMO Experience for Most cancers is the QEII Basis’s signature occasion. 2023 proceeds will totally fund the know-how inside Atlantic Canada’s first-ever CAR-T remedy lab, in addition to gasoline future analysis and medical trials to probably broaden its use to different aggressive cancers.
- CAR-T cell remedy is an immunotherapy or ‘residing drug’ that harnesses a affected person’s personal immune system to detect and destroy the most cancers inside their physique for the remainder of their lives; with at the least half of all eligible sufferers being cured.
- In Canada, it is at present out there for the remedy of sufferers residing with non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma, who haven’t responded to every other remedy choices.
- The affected person’s t-cells are collected from their blood and genetically modified inside a lab to change into CAR-T cells. These cancer-fighting cells are then multiplied and reinfused into the affected person’s physique to assault the most cancers like by no means earlier than.
- The present technique in Nova Scotia entails transport t-cells cells to the USA to be genetically engineered after which shipped again to the QEII, leading to vital delays and wait occasions for Atlantic Canadian sufferers.
- Because the area’s first and solely CAR-T remedy lab – and one among 4 in Canada – this BMO Experience funded lab will quickly mark the primary time that sufferers’ immune cells could be each modified and administered, proper right here at residence.
- Saturday’s BMO Experience Celebration Pageant included dwell leisure by Dave Sampson, music, medals and podium moments, and an on-stage announcement unveiling whole funds raised. The occasion additionally included a heartfelt second recognizing late songwriter and music icon, Bruce Guthro, who had a brave battle with most cancers earlier than his passing; members and their households toasted to Bruce and all these of their lives who’ve they misplaced to this devastating illness.
- Since 2015, BMO Experience for Most cancers has raised over $10.2 million internet (and counting!) to remodel most cancers care, right here at residence, for Atlantic Canadians.
- BMO Experience for Most cancers is laser-focused on persevering with to construct a centre of excellence in most cancers care on the QEII Well being Sciences Centre, equipping care groups with essentially the most superior gear and know-how out there.
- To be taught extra about previous areas of affect funded by our BMO Experience for Most cancers neighborhood – together with Atlantic Canada’s first surgical robotics know-how for robotic most cancers surgical procedures and world’s first EthosTM remedy system with HyperSight™ for radiation remedy – go to yourrideforcancer.ca/affect.
“Although we confronted an unimaginable problem this 12 months resulting from occasion route damages, our BMO Experience neighborhood persevered and demonstrated how they’re really an unstoppable drive. With a record-smashing $2,372,669 internet raised – our most profitable 12 months ever – we’re making Atlantic Canada’s first CAR-T remedy lab a actuality. As we rejoice this transformational affect on most cancers care on the QEII, we’re already waiting for the tenth annual BMO Experience for Most cancers in 2024, the place we’ll come again stronger than ever earlier than.” – Catherine Campbell, volunteer chair of engagement, BMO Experience for Most cancers.
“Once I began collaborating in BMO Experience for Most cancers 5 years in the past, I assumed the occasion proceeds may someday affect somebody I do know or love; I by no means imagined that it might finally be me. Final December at 41 years previous, I used to be identified with colorectal most cancers. As a BMO Experience participant and present most cancers affected person on the QEII, I’ve seen firsthand the direct affect this occasion has on the therapies and most cancers journeys of sufferers like me.” – Liz Sequeira, participant, BMO Experience for Most cancers.
“As host of BMO Experience for Most cancers, the QEII Basis is extremely grateful to BMO, our occasion members, donors, volunteers, sponsors, neighborhood companions and extra who made Saturday, September 23 a monumental success. It is not in regards to the the place or the how, it is the why and this previous week has demonstrated that BMO Experience for Most cancers is a lot greater than a motorcycle journey; it is a motion for native most cancers care that our neighborhood has totally embraced. With greater than $10 million internet raised since 2015, the affect of BMO Experience for Most cancers is felt far and extensive at Atlantic Canada’s largest and most specialised most cancers centre, the QEII.” – Susan Mullin, President and CEO, QEII Basis
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For additional data: Occasion day photographs and video b-roll, or to rearrange interviews with BMO Experience spokespeople and native healthcare consultants, please contact: Nicole Topple, Director of Communications and Advertising and marketing, QEII Basis, 902 476 9798 or