In memory of Melody Matte

Melody Matte was a young, beautiful and vibrant woman who was taken, far too quickly and with little warning, from her friends and family after a brave fight against an aggressive lung cancer. 

When someone like Melody dies, the living are left with all sorts of questions and struggle to make sense of such a great loss. It forces you to stop and reflect and make decisions that are going to make a difference.

That’s why Melody’s family and friends established a Tribute Fund, The Melody Matte Memorial Fund, with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. The Fund honours Melody’s memory and the gifts made to the fund will go to support families facing cancer in the Ottawa area ­­-- a fitting tribute to Melody and what she stood for.

Throughout her life, Melody was an example to others of how we might live. She was as exquisite a person inside as out. In her illness, Melody’s friends returned the support she had offered so freely to them throughout her life, and she passed away knowing she was adored and appreciated by those whose lives she brightened. Her tribute fund is an ideal way to remember Melody for who she was and to ensure her legacy lives on and helps others.

Tribute funds are a powerful means to honour someone going through treatment or to remember someone who has lost their battle with cancer. Families can establish a fund and direct donations to an area that is important to the family, whether that is Cancer Survivorship Care programs, research or diagnostic equipment. Donations are dispersed immediately to ensure programs that need support receive the required funding.

To support The Melody Matte Memorial Fund please visit the web page at http://ottawacancer.akaraisin.com/melody

To learn more about creating your own Tribute fund, please contact Rachael Wilson, Director, Annual and Legacy Giving (rwilson@ottawacancer.ca).

This event will grow on you!

It’s getting chilly outside – and while some are keeping warm with scarves, turtlenecks and hot chocolate, Ottawa Fire Services Recruits are heating things up with nature’s original face warmers: moustaches.

You can register a moustache, sponsor a moustache or simply donate. The funds raised go to some amazing technology that makes surgical interventions less invasive and dramatically reduces recovery times. We are very fortunate to have the Da Vinci robot in our community directly improving cancer survivorship for our region.

Be part of the next victory over cancer.
   

Buy tickets for the game and support the Cancer Foundation

Hockey Fights Cancer is a NHL-wide campaign that is a component of the NHL's Biggest Assist Happens off the Ice, Campaign,. The Sens take on the Philidelphia Flyers on October 18 at Scotiabank Place. There will be special merchandise including signed hockey pucks for sale that evening. They have also established a special ticketing program with a portion of the funds coming to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

Funds raised will be directed to support the Cancer Survivorship Care programming at the Maplesoft Centre. (Door open to this amazing facility on November 3) The Centre is a first of its kind in Canada and will offer free cancer coaching services and workshops to meet the needs of cancer survivors and those closest to them.

The program helps cancer patients get important information that they need to make important choices on their personal cancer journey.

Come on out to the game on October 18 and know you are supporting a worthy cause in our community. 

From Grape Stomping to Pole Walking

The secret to good health was once summed up in four simple words: Eat less, move more.

Here at the cancer Foundation we try to do our part by promoting activities that will benefit everyone's health.

If you have visited our Nordic Walk event web site, you probably saw some of the proven health benefits for people at all levels of fitness. Nordic Walking is effective, efficient, low-stress, low-impact, improves posture and speeds up weight loss. Do try it, you will be pleasantly surprised.

It's not just the nordic walk activity that is worthwhile, but the reason we are raising funds. The Maplesoft Centre is going to transform cancer care in our community by empowering people as they travel on their cancer journey. The coaching, programs and workshops are designed to help cancer survivors and their families improve their quality of life. The medical community concentrates on the disease. We are concentrating on the person.

You can help make this happen. Register for the Nordic Walk for Cancer Survivorship and discover the power of the poles...




 

Nordic Walk Launch is off and...walking..with poles

What can you do for 50 minutes but is worth 90 minutes of exercise. If you guessed Nordic Pole walking you would be correct.

The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation's inaugural Nordic Walk for Cancer Survivorship will be taking place on October 30, 2011. You can be part of a fitness trend that has taken Europe by storm and is gaining popularity in Canada in leaps and bounds.

Nordic Pole walking has proven health benefits for everyone including cancer survivors improving circulation and lowering blood pressure for example. The activity is so popular in Germany for example, that there are government incentives if you participate. 

The event has caught the imagination of many in the community including our two co-sponsors: Scotiabank and Telus. Both of these organizations have a long track record of community engagement and we are very pleased they are on board for this signature event.

Funds raised through the event will go towards the Maplesoft Centre offering Cancer Survivorship CareTM. The coaching, programs and workshops that make up Cancer Survivorship CareTM are designed to empower participants to take control of their health and give them the tools and resources they need to improve their quality of life. 

All the details about the Scotiabank-Telus Nordic Walk for Cancer Survivorship and how to sign up are available right here.



But, don't forget the unique, fun-filled Grape Stomp happening on September 25, 2011 as part of Little Italy's La Vendemmia celebrating the harvest. It's a fun-filled four person relay race that brings out the FUN in fundraising. Monies raised go to support cancer research that is conducted right here in our community.
Here is the info about the Grape Stomp.   

We have been with Dr. Bell from the very beginning

News of Dr. John Bell’s innovative cancer research using viruses has been making headlines in Canada and around the world.

In 2000, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation invested $25,000 to begin funding Dr. Bell's oncolytic virus research.

 

We not only provided seed funding for Dr. Bell’s research, but also provided funds to purchase equipment needed to engineer the virus, staffing for discovery and testing, and invested in human clinical trials. Since 2007, the Cancer Foundation has provided over $1.2 million to Dr. Bell’s research with ongoing commitments from existing donors.

Over the last decade the Cancer Foundation has invested more than $8 million in local research and clinical trials. In 2010 alone, the Cancer Foundation invested more than $1.4 million into research. Thank to this investment and continued support, local cancer patients have access to new therapies and ground-breaking clinical trials.

When this type of research happens in our community, we all benefit because cancer patients can participate in clinical trials and the hopefully more dollars can be raised to ensure research moves forward.

A roller coaster week - a Friday to reflect

The story dominating the news this week was the sudden death of Jack Layton, only a month after telling the nation he was taking a break from his job because his cancer was back. The news stories were mostly about Jack's political career and his role in the amazing surge of the NDP in the last election. There was lots of talk of Jack's very personable and genuine approach to politics and life in general.

Jack Layton's death put cancer in the spot light once again and it got covered from a variety of angles. One interesting article that appeared in Tuesday's Globe & Mail was about the very militaristic language used to describe cancer. It's something we have discussed informally at the Cancer Foundation's Cancer Survivorship Care Centre as we prepare to open our doors to cancer survivors in the late fall. Some would argue we are sugar coating the cancer journey by wishing to tone down or remove military references, but our conversation is about finding the best approach to describe what is often a messy and complex disease.

Carly Weeks' Globe & Mail article made us reflect even further on the way we talk about cancer and the article suggests that perhaps there are better ways to talk about the cancer journey. The article goes on to say that perhaps it's more important to focus on learning to live with cancer because that idea is much more empowering then setting up a battle scenario where there is a winner and a loser.

Cancer Foundation staff got together for a half day retreat on August 25 to talk about the type of experience we want to create for people who will participate in our programs and workshops. It was an afternoon of useful often emotional discussion that helped us all define what our Cancer Survivorship Centre was all about. We spent a lot of time talking about the language we use to describe what we do and what our interactions with our guests would look like. We did not come up with all the answers, but we were unified in our desire to create an empowering experience in a friendly and welcoming environment.

It's a conversation that continues to evolve.






  

Looking ahead with an appreciative nod behind us

Capital hoedown was here and gone (no stage collapses) and the Cancer Foundation raised over $4000 with the guitar raffle thanks to the generosity of the folks here in Ottawa.

It was the 30th anniversary of the Xerox 10k run on Tuesday, August 16. There was a good crowd that came out and the mayor kicked things off. We certainly appreciate that funds were raised for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. We really do live in a wonderful community.

Registration opened up for two of our fundraising events. Grape Stomp on September 25 and The Nordic Walk for Cancer SurvivorshipTM on October 30. These are two wonderful events and remember that the funds are used right here in our community to improve cancer survivorship careTM.

Every week there are a few things that change here at the centre. The infrared Sauna is now in its home in one of the therapy rooms of the healing corner. Infrared sauna rays are waves of energy totally invisible to the naked eye, capable of penetrating deep into the human body, where they gently elevate the body's surface temperature and activate major bodily functions. The rays expand capillaries which stimulate increased blood flow, regeneration, circulation and oxygenation.

We also received a beauty of a BBQ donated to us by Romantic Fireplaces and BBQs in Orleans. It is quite the BBQ and will be used for a variety of activities at the Centre.

I'll keep you up to speed as things continue to progress.

It's a busy time -- and we love it

Finishing touches are being added everyday to the new Cancer Survivorship Centre. This week, workers are installing a water feature in the McGarry Family atrium. The water feature was designed by Nicholas Bott, owner of the Pond Clinic and the man behind the Ottawa Water Garden Festival. 
The water feature will include a digital inlay that will highlight the thousands of supporters of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and the Maplesoft Centre. A camera will be mounted on the wall across from the fountain and project the names onto the water feature. Very cool!

The equipment has arrived for the Snoezelen Room -- a very cool multi-sensory environment that involves stimulating all the senses and designed for multiple education and therapy purposes.Snoezelen has been used for those with dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, intellectual or mental disabilities or to boost relaxation and creativity. Snoezelen has also been used to treat chronic pain and chemo fog. We look forward to having the equipment up and running now that it's arrived at the Centre.

But the Maplesoft Centre is not the only place where the action is happening. The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has a tent set up at this year's Capital Hoedown, one of the country's biggest country music festivals. The festival runs from August 11 to 13 and features headliners Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Miranda Lambert. The Cancer Foundation is raffling off a guitar signed by all the artists at this year's festival.

We are also gearing up for this year's edition of The Grape Stomp. This is a shout out to register your team for the Grape Stomp as soon as possible.  It's a unique team relay race that's easy, fun and raises funds for cancer research that is being conducted in our very own community. The Grape Stomp is one of the culminating events that is part of La Vendemmia -- a celebration of Italian food, wine and culture. It's a classic fall event in Ottawa and takes place on the new and improved Preston Street -- free of construction and looking better then ever. Remember to register your team.

There is lots more coming up so stay tuned! 
 

Settling in!

The entire staff at the Cancer Foundation was tremendously proud to arrive at our new home on Monday morning. We were greeted with home-baked scones and other celebratory morning goodies. Linda gave the staff a tour of the entire facility. For some of us it was the first time in months that we had been in the centre and every turn of the corner (there are many corners) brought more ohs and aws. We settled into our individual work stations, learned how the new phones worked and got down to business.

There are a few finishing touches to complete, but things are progressing well and we are very fortunate to be in such a wonderful space.

On Friday, July 15 we will be welcoming Estrellita Karsh who has presented the Cancer Foundation with a original Yousuf Karsh portrait of Helen Keller and her long-time companion, Polly Thompson. It's a wonderful gift to the Centre and fits in so well with what we are trying to achieve at the cancer survivorshop centre. We aim to provide the community with the resources, tools and information they need putting recovery back in the hands of cancer survivors and their families. Guidance and wisdom -- those things resonate through the Karsh portrait. 

Stay tuned for more information about the grand opening this fall.



       

NIght of Courage a resounding success

A NIGHT OF COURAGE

Ottawa's partying young people got the cancer message on Friday night.

Homegrown NHLers Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers and Martin St. Pierre of the Columbus Blue Jackets joined ORCF's Chuck Merovitz and Max Keeping in a midnight nightclub blitz to spread the word that cancer shows no bias on age. Breast and testicular cancers particularly hit the 20-something demographic.

The unique event was the brainchild of Abbis Mahmoud, owner of Urban Male Magazine, and longtime nightclub owner in Ottawa and Toronto. He led the cancer messengers to his clubs - Lobby, Mansion, and Union Station, where cover charge, raffles and donations were given to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.  Two other nightclubs, Tila Tequila and Buddha Bar Lounge, participated in the fundraising/awareness promotion. All bar staff wore "COURAGE" shirts. 

Earlier, Abbis Mamoud hosted a Next Generation cocktail reception in his Byward Market condo - where Chuck and Max spoke of the cancer Foundation's Survivorship focus, and the Maplesoft Centre which will open to the public in the fall.  The thousands of dollars raised by Mahmoud's Night of Courage will be directed to the programs at the Centre. Merovitz is a tireless fundraising leader for the Cancer Foundation, who spearheaded development of the Ottawa Cancer Survivor's Park. Keeping is founding co-chair of the Alterna Do It For Dad walk/run - and is a cancer survivor.

A night of Courage

On Friday, July 8, Urban Male Magazine(UMM), Canada’s Best Selling Men’s Magazine, is holding the first official A Night of COURAGE.  It’s one night dedicated to raising important funding in support of Cancer Survivorship Care programming at the Maplesoft Centre. 

It's a perfect example of how local businesses are joining the fight for cancer survivorship. Their efforts are helping reach a new generation of donor.

On July 8, 100% of Cover Charge, Donations and Silent Auction proceeds from the UMM establishments listed below will benefit ‘A Night of Courage’

LOBBY  Nightclub @ 158 ½ Dalhousie St.

Tila Tequila Nightclub @ 104 Clarence St.

Buddha Bar Lounge @ 104B Clarence St.

Mansion @ 400A Dalhousie St.

Union Station Pub Club @ 360 Elgin St.

I hope many of you will join in on a night on the town and a night of courage. 
 

You could feel the energy

It was amazing to be part of the 13th edition of the Alterna Do It for Dad Family Run and Walk. Not only was there record participation and money raised, but you could feel this positive energy ripple through the entire site. It's a unique running event. Given it's Father's Day, you have all generations represented from babies in strollers to the 70+ who actually ran the race. Over two thousand people participated in this year's event topping last year's number by over 500. It was such a beautiful day in Ottawa -- sunny, little wind, no humidity and a celebratory feeling that had everyone smiling.

It was a sea of grey Do It For Dad t-shirts -- 56 corporate teams, 49 family teams and waves of individual participants. Max Keeping, one of the founders of this event and such a powerful community ambassador led the formal presentations with his warm and familiar voice. Greg Herbert and Team greggybear were front and centre having raised over $72,000. Just about everyone in that crowd has been touched directly or indirectly by cancer and that's a powerful incentive to get involved and contribute.

Together we are making a difference one victory at a time.
 

Two more sleeps until Do It For Dad

The Cancer Foundation offices have been buzzing all week as staff get set for this weekend's Alterna Do It For Dad Family Run and Walk. We are looking at a record number of participants this year -- nearly 2,000. We added a new 5 km walk this year that has proven really popular. We already had the 2 km family walk, but I think people wanted a little more exercise without necessarily running. 

The Alterna Do It For Dad is by far one of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation's biggest fundraisers and we are lucky to have some great sponsors to support us especially Alterna as our title sponsor. This year, the money raised is going to help fund a very cool robotic surgery system called the Da Vinci surgical system. In a nutshell, it will minimize surgeries, reduce recovery time and shorten hospital stays and those are all very good things.

Anyone who has ever been involved in organizing an event of this size can appreciate the work that goes into the backend. I have to give a very big shout out to our event planning team and all of the Cancer Foundation staff, for putting together what looks to be a fantastic event. It even looks like Mother Nature is going to cooperate which is always a bonus.  

It's not too late to join in and Do It For Dad. You can still register on event day starting at 6:30 a.m.

Staff members at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation are looking forward to moving into the new Cancer Survivorship Centre on Alta Vista Drive that is nearing completion. They are even more excited about what it will mean for cancer survivors in the region and their families. 

The 11,634 square foot home, located adjacent to the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park, is about to transform cancer care in our region. It has been designed with the comfort and care of cancer survivors and their families in mind. The idea was to create an attractive, warm and inviting environment where survivors could access services often overlooked or simply not covered in traditional cancer care. Dozens of workshops and programs will be offered free of charge and without referral dealing with all sorts of issues from eating right, to dealing with financial issues, to improving the quality of sleep and even music therapy.

Many of these programs are being offered right now. You can visit the Cancer Foundation website to see what workshops and programs are available and to register.

The Cancer Foundation broke ground on this innovative centre in 2010 and it’s exciting to be near the end of the construction.  Many professionals were consulted before and during the construction of the home resulting in details that will make a significant difference — things like radiant floor heating, fully-equipped teaching kitchen, zero VOC paints, cozy fireplace, lots of energy-efficient windows resulting in tons of natural light, and a carpet system that involves no glue or harsh chemicals.

 

Stay tuned for more information and pictures as the Cancer Survivorship Centre progresses.