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.