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.