2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT INSIDE PAGE 1 A DREAM FULFILLED YOU ARE BY THEIR SIDE PAGE 3 It is often said cancer is a journey. It involves many challenges, phases and emotions. DONOR DOLLAR IMPACT It is not a straight line and it is tremendously difficult. Unfortunately each year more than 6,800 Manitobans will begin their own journey and many thousands more will PAGE 4 continue down the paths laid out for them which began with their diagnoses. INDIVIDUAL DONORS These children, young adults, women and men are so incredibly fortunate YOU – PAGE 7 our donors, sponsors and volunteer fundraisers - are by their side on their journeys. CORPORATE DONORS On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are proud to share the annual report for the PAGE 9 year ending March 31, 2017. The Foundation is the only charitable organization exclusively SIGNATURE EVENTS fundraising for CancerCare Manitoba. Each and every generous gift you make stays in our province and supports cancer patients of all ages and walks of life. Your philanthropy PAGE 11 enabled us to grant over six million dollars this past year to CancerCare to support COMMUNITY EVENTS prevention and early detection initiatives, leading-edge research, clinical trials and patient care programs and services. PAGE 14 DISCOVERIES HAPPEN HERE We are honoured to share how YOU helped Fred Clark, a man who in the prime of his THANK YOU FROM CCMB life was diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer. Your support funds life-saving clinical trials which are available to Fred and many other CancerCare Manitoba patients. PAGE 15 These trials are critical to advancing research and cancer treatment protocols. Five years OUR BOARD AND COMMITTEES after his staggering diagnosis, Fred is healthy and embarking on a very special journey, one which is miles and miles away from the cancer journey he’s been on. A journey that PAGE 16 is fulfilling a dream and only possible because of you. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS We are so grateful for YOUR continued commitment to CancerCare Manitoba and all the incredibly special people and their loved ones who are living with this disease. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Doug Harvey, CHAIR Annitta Stenning, PRESIDENT AND CEO CANCERCARE MANITOBA FOUNDATION CANCERCARE MANITOBA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS … and keep a promise YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES CLINICAL TRIALS RIGHT HERE IN MANITOBA POSSIBLE Growing up, Fred Clark says his family was very poor. “I lost it on the phone,” says Fred. “I couldn’t talk, I was He would often dream about different places that sobbing. I said, ‘am I going to die?’” seemed worlds away, like the summit of Mount Everest. It seemed so unreachable. He studied it, and because The doctor didn’t mince words; he might. Fred had a it seemed so elusive it was incredible to imagine. 1.2 cm tumour in his throat, Stage IV cancer. The plan to save his life began immediately. The CancerCare Manitoba Years later when he had his own family, wife Karin, team consisting of surgeons, radiation oncologists and daughters Meagan and Alysha, he volunteered and pathologists thoroughly discussed Fred’s diagnosis at his church running a youth group. During that and decided on the best course of action. time he met a girl who was battling severe anorexia. Thanks to your generous support, CancerCare Manitoba Her struggles were making her recovery seem impossible Foundation directs more than one million dollars to to her. Fred urged her to consider the way someone clinical trials each year. This funding enables trials to be ascends Mount Everest was just how she needed to accessible to Manitoba cancer patients like Fred. There was approach her recovery. a trial available to him that could potentially save his life. The trial offered Fred accelerated radiation therapy and “You can’t just take a helicopter to the top, it’s a process,” a new drug option. He was scheduled for 35 radiation Fred recalls. “You’re endlessly up and down. And the last treatments and three rounds of chemotherapy. He reacted couple of days, you’ve finally acclimatized yourself to the so poorly to the chemotherapy that he admits he thought point where you can make the push for the summit. I said he wouldn’t pull through. His will was constantly being to her, ‘listen, you get better, then I’ll go to Mount Everest, tested and he leaned on his care team often. I’ll get my picture taken, and that will be a testament to you that you did this.’” Ten years ago, a case like Fred’s would have had an outlook of 50 per cent survival at best. Ongoing donor investment His Mount Everest promise really seemed to resonate and has resulted in continued progress and new discoveries – her health improved. A few years after helping this young each and every year. With new treatment advances, woman through her health crisis, Fred’s own life hung in patients with this diagnosis who are treated at CancerCare the balance. He had been experiencing ear pain, a crushing Manitoba have hope for an 80-85 per cent three-year headache and couldn’t sleep. He was taken to the ER and survival rate. Incredible. Thank you! upon undergoing a painful needle biopsy, he received the devastating news – “you have throat cancer.” Even though Fred was going through such a difficult time, he did his best to brighten everyone else’s day around him – it’s simply his nature. 1 “He’s also going to plant a flag in honour of those who have helped him at CancerCare Manitoba and YOU – donors and supporters.” “That’s how he always is,” says Dr. Jim Butler, Fred’s radiation oncologist. “He’s such a gregarious guy and the staff love him. He’s truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” FRED KNEW HE HAD TO GET A HARLEY DAVIDSON At times, Fred thought he might not survive his diagnosis. This is “I went out and bought a Harley. Fred sees things his own way. when his wife Karin reminded him Got tattoos, got an earring. My kids “I’m not a remarkable man,” he says. of the promise he’d made a few years thought I’d lost my mind,” laughs Fred. “I’m not special. I’m not anything earlier. She told him “you have to live. And what about the special promise out of the ordinary. That’s the worst You still have to climb Mount Everest.” made to that special girl? Fred is part about cancer – it kills regular, He remained focused on that special keeping his promise. This fall he ordinary folk.” promise and completed his treatment. is making his dream trip to Mount And then almost unthinkably a few Everest with his daughter. They will months later, Karin was diagnosed with do the base camp trek and once there, melanoma. They were now both cancer he will plant prayer flags where the patients and more anxiety followed. winds can carry his prayers through the Himalayas. They did what they had to do to put one foot in front of the other. He chokes up when he talks about By his five-month post-treatment these prayers… for the people he cares scan, Fred’s lymph nodes and tonsils about so much who haven’t survived, had continued to recover and were for those who have, and for those showing a complete response. who will come later. He’s also going Five months became a year, and to plant a flag in honour of those another year. He was cancer-free. who have helped him at CancerCare KARIN, FRED, AND THEIR DAUGHTERS MEAGAN AND ALYSHA All thanks to you and generous Manitoba and YOU – our donors support of clinical trials in Manitoba. and supporters who are providing In October he will reach the place thousands of individuals and families he believed to be unreachable, Karin was also recovering each and every day in our province and conquer what he thought was from her melanoma, so there with more tomorrows together. unconquerable. Cancer has changed were many reasons to celebrate. Fred, but thanks to your tremendous Dr. Butler isn’t surprised by Fred’s support, it has not defeated him. In the years since his diagnosis, dedication to helping others. You have been instrumental in Fred has begun helping other enabling his dream to be fulfilled cancer patients with their recoveries. “Working at CancerCare Manitoba, and a very special promise kept. Whether through his church or other you see a lot of good, but unfortunately It really doesn’t get any better organizations, he does all he can to we deal with a lot of tough, tough than that. lessen the pain they’re going through. situations,” he says. “With Fred, he’s A pain he knows all too well. the kind of guy who takes his energy and just gives it to other people. Cancer also changed Fred And that really helps on the hard days.” in a surprising way. 2 CANCERCARE MANITOBA FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 SPECIFIC PROJECTS DONOR DOLLAR FUNDED IN 2016-2017: RESEARCH, EDUCATION & EQUIPMENT Core Operating Budget – Research Institute IMPACT in Oncology and Hematology Research Operating Grants – Brain, Breast, Colorectal, Lymphoma, Prostate EPIDEMIOLOGY AWARENESS & Studentships & Fellowships 4% RISK REDUCTION 4% CCMB Translational Research Program Core funding for CancerCare Manitoba Training Programs Core funding for Manitoba Tumour Bank PATIENT CARE, SUPPORT & Medical Physics Research Training Program TRAINING Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit Infrastructure Support 11% Clinical Practice Guidelines Initiative Next Generation Sequencing – Pilot Project ADULT & PEDIATRIC CLINICAL TRIALS Manitoba Prostate Centre Clinical Trials & Research Program 18% EPIDEMIOLOGY Core funding for Epidemiology and Cancer Registry PEDIATRIC AND ADULT CLINICAL TRIALS RESEARCH, EDUCATION & EQUIPMENT Core funding for Pediatric, Adult 63% and Blood and Marrow Transplant Trials PATIENT CARE – SUPPORT AND TRAINING Adolescent and Young Adult Psychosocial Clinical Care Breast and Gyne Cancer Centre of Hope Camp Indigo – Pediatric Oncology The Foundation’s mandate is to support Cancer Specific Information and Networking Sessions CancerCare Manitoba’s strategic priorities Cancer Patient Handbook by funding programs and services that CCMB AfterCare Program for survivors of childhood cancer may not be eligible for government funding.