10/11 Prairies NWT Annual Report

Community ANNUAL REPORT

Rep o rt to the

2010/2011

Thank you for your continued support.

You will find inside a collection of success stories from the past year in the Prairies/NWT Region.

+ LEARN MORE cbcf.org/prairiesnwt

Who are you running for?

TM

Brian’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer the day before their wedding.

Save the Date: Sunday, September 30, 2012 Walk, run and give generously.

Visit cbcf.org

Table of Contents 3 // A message from the CEO: Trish Bronsch talks teamwork 4 // LINKPINK: Lance Armstrong for breast cancer 6 // Breast Health Life Plan: Facebook app helps spread awareness

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7 // Early detection at every age 8 // Safeway: Connects with the community 9 // Bustin' Loose for Breast Cancer 10 // Deciding which projects to fund: A decision making process

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11 // Profile: Breast Health Education & Awareness Community Grant Recipient 12 // Profile: Research Grant Recipient 13 // Quick glance: Research and Opportunity Grant Recipients 14 // Quick glance: Breast Health Education & Awareness Grant Recipients

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16 // Team CIBC 18 // Running towards a future 21 // Tumour Bank makes progress 22 // Batter Up: Batting Against Breast Cancer 25 // Curves for a Cure: A club designed for women 26 // Regional Financial Summary 28 // A dedicated volunteer: Stewart Roy

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About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Addressing the needs of Canadians from coast to coast, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has regional offices in British Columbia/Yukon Territory, Prairies/NWT, Ontario and the Atlantic Region. The Foundation’s central office is located in Toronto.

OUR MISSION As the leading national volunteer-based organization dedicated to creating a future without breast cancer, the Foundation works collaboratively to fund, support and advocate for: • Relevant and innovative research, • Meaningful education and awareness programs, • Early diagnosis and effective treatment; and • A positive quality of life for those living with breast cancer.

OUR VALUES In the realization of our vision and mission, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation will serve as: • An effective advocate: Demonstrating our commitment to those living with and touched by breast cancer, voicing the need for a positive quality of life today, and in the future.

• A trusted leader: Promoting the highest values, principles and practices to ensure accountability and effectiveness.

Annual Report 2010/2011 Charitable Registration No. 12799 3608 RR0001 The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation respects your privacy. We never sell, trade, or loan your information to any other organization. We will use your information only for follow-up contracts, statistical purposes and to process and recognize your donations. We disclose your information only to our own employees and agents and only to accomplish this purpose. If at any time you no longer wish to be contacted by the Foundation, please call us at 1-866-302-2223 and we will be happy to remove you from our lists.

CONTACT US Edmonton Suite 700, 10665 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 3S9 phone: 780-452-1166 toll-free: 1-866-302-2223 fax: 780-451-6554

• A respectful partner: Collaborating with donors and sponsors, working within a network of organizations involved in the issue of breast cancer, actively engaging volunteers, including survivors, to ensure that we maximize our impact and work effectively together for a cause.

Calgary Suite 430, 1324 – 17 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2T 5S8 phone: 403-209-2233 fax: 403-209-2366

• A resourceful catalyst: Promoting innovation and supporting meaningful and relevant work in research and programs, from prevention to palliation.

Winnipeg Suite 304, 1 Wesley Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6 phone: 204-231-4885 toll-free: 1-866-267-3948 fax: 204-231-4910 cbcf.org/prairiesnwt

Cover photo and Batting Against Breast Cancer photos on Table of Contents, page 22, 23 by PixelPie Photography Photo on page 4 and 5 by Elizabeth Kreutz

Sign up to become a valued volunteer.

Volunteer support is invaluable, and the Foundation would not be able to achieve its goals without their dedication.

Cure 2010 Run for the tors ina ord Volunteer Co

Join us today at cbcf.org

Teamwork is Key The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

That phrase characterizes the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and it comes to life when everyone believes that what they’re doing truly matters.

For every person involved with the Foundation, this is so much more than a job, a volunteer role or a cheque written. It’s a firm commitment to making a difference in people’s lives. It’s a conscious choice by a diverse group of individuals and corporations to come together as a team to create a future without breast cancer.

When you take such a persistent and positive attitude and combine it with some of the brightest minds in cancer research and breast health education and awareness programming, the results are incredible.

Breast cancer is resilient and difficult to understand. There’s no magic button, or single approach to solving the problem. Diversity and ingenuity will be the keys to success. But in the highly complex research world, the only way to explore new horizons is with adequate funding.

That’s why the Region allocates the money raised with discretion. Every dollar has a purpose. Every dollar is maximized to give researchers the opportunity to open new doors, to unlock secrets the disease has held from us for so long.

And their approaches are novel, and exciting.

We are proud to have some of the brightest and most innovative minds in cancer research on our team. I encourage you to read through the section on our research, breast health education and awareness and opportunity grants so you can appreciate the work your dollars and support are funding.

As a charitable foundation, it would be easy to look internally and say 2010/2011 was a great year. But the truth is, to realize this success, we needed you.

Volunteers. Survivors. Clinicians. Donors. Fundraisers. Researchers. Community and Corporate Partners. Every hour you give is precious. Every project you undertake holds promise. Every dollar you raise is vital. Thank you.

While we celebrate our remarkable achievements, we must never forget that 1 in 9 Canadian women will still be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. That’s why your support still matters. Each and every one of us share this vision – a future without breast cancer. And we will get there.

William Shakespeare once said, “Strong reasons make strong actions.”

Hope and strength serve to inspire and motivate everyone touched by breast cancer.

But it will be our collective actions – a commitment to volunteer at another event, a decision to stretch a donation just a bit more, a willingness to stay just a little longer in the lab – that will define our success.

Thank you for your support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region in 2010/2011.

Trish Bronsch, CEO Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region

Moments to live at LinkPink 2010 From witnessing her mother’s triumph to meeting one of her heroes, the last ten years have been about inspiration and accomplishment for Dawn Payne.

“We’re going to kill you, without killing you.”

It was the simplest way to explain the chemotherapy and radiation treatment Dawn Payne’s mother was to undergo, but it didn’t make the news any easier to bear.

Her doctor was describing how, in order to destroy the rare form of cancer she had (angiosarcoma of the breast), they were going to use the highest levels of chemotherapy and radiation possible, which would damage her only slightly less than the cancer itself. He meant it.

“She was wasting away,” Dawn said.

“When she started losing her hair, she decided to shave her head, but it was still a shock when even the stubble fell out.”

From re-admissions between chemo treatments, to time spent in an isolation ward from infection, there were dark days in a Winnipeg hospital.

“I would fly out for her week of chemo, and just read to her, and keep her company, even when she was sleeping. It was all I could do.”

Physically, Dawn’s mother was in the hands of her doctor and the cancer-fighting technology. Mentally, she was more than ready for what lay ahead.

“Overall, it was my mom’s attitude that got her through. Even when things got really bad, she stayed positive. She decided to make a goal for herself every day. Some days, it was just to walk to the bathroom. Other days, it was to make it to the family room at the end of the hospital hallway.”

A walk down a hospital hall may sound like nothing compared to a 100 kilometre bike ride in the mountains, but her mother’s battle was very much in mind when Dawn raised $56,000 to take part in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s LINKPINK 2010 bicycle ride with cancer survivor and seven time Tour de France

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Report to the Community 2010/11

champion Lance Armstrong, co-presented by the Canada Safeway Foundation and the Edmonton Journal.

As a fundraiser and awareness driver for the Region, the event depended on the support of the community to be successful.

One of the Foundation’s strongest partners in LINKPINK was Incite Marketing and Principal, Jared Smith. As it turned out, having the Foundation contact him to get involved was the easy part.

“Getting that call was a thrill, to say the least,” said Jared. “But after the initial excitement, the hard work began. We do in-kind work with a charity each year, but never on this scale. Getting people to fundraise a minimum of $25,000 each was a daunting task.”

Using flyers and emails, promotional displays in bike shops and cafés, and partnering with local media, Incite Marketing helped successfully spread the word. After that, it was up to the fundraisers to make LINKPINK 2010 happen.

“It really was the Dawns of the world,” Jared said. “My job was helping get the information out to attract riders, but they had to raise the money. The most impressive thing to me was how everyone – from the fundraisers, to the sponsors, to the Foundation worked so tirelessly. It was inspiring to see how much Edmontonians are willing to step up for a good cause.”

The event itself was equally inspiring.

Forty-four riders headed to Jasper after a sold out luncheon featuring Armstrong and the legendary voice of the Tour de France, Phil Liggett at the Shaw Conference Centre.

When they arrived in Jasper, the scenic mountains matched the blissful feeling in the air.

“It was surreal,” said Dawn. “We were all just waiting around with our bikes and our gear, and there was such a buzz among the riders, wondering when Lance would

Dawn Payne with lance armstrong

arrive. Then all of a sudden he pulls up on his bike, and is just like, ‘Hey guys! Who wants to go for a ride?’”

The ride went on, back dropped by the Rocky Mountains, with each fundraiser, and even a few locals, getting time with the iconic athlete.

“He was always surrounded,” said Dawn, who’s followed his career since it began. “But he had time for everyone.

When I spoke with him, it didn’t feel like I was talking to someone I’ve been inspired by all these years; it felt like anyone else on the trip. He said Jasper was beautiful, one of the nicest areas he’s been to for a fundraiser ride.”

Although her mother’s treatments and the bike ride were nearly a decade apart, in many ways, meeting Lance at LINKPINK 2010 was eight years in the making. Since before her mother fell ill, Dawn’s had a Lance Armstrong Nike ad posted on her bulletin board. The picture focuses on the brain surgery scar on the side of his shaved head. Seeing the ad, and hearing Lance’s story, inspired Dawn’s mother as well.

“She said if Lance could crawl out of the hospital to ride, she could make it another day. I didn’t have that picture up because I thought I would meet him, it was just so inspiring. Now I’ve got one of Lance and me together to go with it.”

+ learn more about Lance Armstrong's work with cancer at livestrong.org

for

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”

– Henry David Thoreau Report to the Community 2010/11

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Breast Health Life Plan Facebook application reminds people of their risk and helps adjust their lifestyle.

A plan for you,

and you,

and you.

BREAST

HEALTH LIFE PLAN

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Report to the Community 2010/11

We all know physical health is important. From eating right and exercising regularly, reading new studies and booking routine check ups, we do what we can to stay healthy.

Or at least, we try. But we also have things to do, and those things can add up and distract us from simple but crucial duties, like being aware of our breast health, at any age.

Sometimes we just want to sit back and surf the Internet. Sure, some legitimate health research happens, but we mostly mull around, check our favourite sites and see what our friends are up to – which is exactly what the Prairies/NWT Region had in mind when they created the Breast Health Life Plan application for Facebook.

Having gone live in May of 2011, the idea for the app – a series of questions which help people assess their risk of developing breast cancer – came about late last year in a think-tank session among members of the Region’s Health Promotions department, who help develop their annual awareness-raising campaign. Director of Health Promotions, Lois Harrison, said the key to last year’s campaign was accessibility to all ages.

“We wanted to use social media, but still reach the different age groups,” Harrison said. “Our aim was to capture the younger audience to make them aware of the importance of lifestyle choices in reducing risks, but also to include the 50-plus demographic to make them aware of the increased importance of early detection.

Based on recommendations received, we felt Facebook would present us with that opportunity. ” The goal of the Breast Health Life Plan, from the app itself, is to help users determine their personal risk factors, asses their current lifestyle, create an earlydetection plan, and know “when and how to modify your Life Plan as you age, taking into account that your risk factors change.”

The application’s questions came from the most recent studies and statistics on breast health. Unsurprisingly, though easy to forget for those with busy lives,

lifestyle choices play a huge role in breast cancer prevention.

“Lifestyle is important at any age and it’s never too early or too late to modify your lifestyle in general,” Harrison said.

“There’s no minimum or maximum age for becoming active and eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, or limiting your alcohol consumption. You can start late and it will still have a good impact. If you start early, so much the better.”

Though thoroughly researched, the questions aren’t static. They will be updated as new research develops and new risk factors emerge.

“The questions and answers are based on current evidence,” said Harrison. “But if new factors evolve that research is definite about, we would definitely modify the content. Similarly, if current evidence is overturned at some point in time, we would want the questions and content to reflect that as well. We aim to present the public with current evidence-based information.”

We all know that, for any type of cancer, a pro-active approach, such as eating right and checking early and often, is best. But being the busy, connected creatures we are, it’s understandable that we are less diligent at times. This is why embracing social media, one of the most powerful and commonly used tools in the world, is such a good strategy. We don’t like to think about ourselves getting cancer, and checking for it can slip anyone’s mind, so every reminder like the pink ‘BHLP’ symbol on the side of the screen, keeps us up to date on risks and preventative measures. And that’s key because for now, risk reduction is the closest thing to a cure.

Search ‘Breast Health Life Plan’ on Facebook to get the application.

+ get the app at cbcf.org/breasthealthlifeplan

Early detection of breast cancer There are steps you can take to help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. These steps include lifestyle choices such as: maintaining a healthy body weight; regular physical activity; eating a healthy diet; limiting alcohol intake; and avoiding tobacco.

However, when it comes to preventing breast cancer, there are no guarantees. Because there are no guarantees, you should take action to detect breast cancer as early as possible. These actions involve having an understanding of breast cancer and personal risk factors; checking your breasts regularly for changes which are not normal for you; having a professional check your breasts on a regular basis; and when age and risk appropriate, having regular screening mammograms.

No early detection test is 100% effective in finding breast cancers. That is why a combination of early detection options is important, and remains important throughout your life. Early detection of breast cancer is a life plan – a plan which will evolve as you get older and as your risk factors change.

Combining lifestyle options to reduce your risk and practicing the early detection methods which follow, are important steps to your overall breast health. It is never too early or too late to start.

Early detection means early and less invasive treatment. Early treament means an increased probability of survival.

Know your breasts Your breasts will change over your lifetime. Changes may occur because of weight gain or loss, pregnancy, or getting older. Knowing your breasts means recognizing these changes and checking for changes which do not feel right to you.

• Know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

• Know how your breasts normally look and feel.

• Look and feel for changes on a regular basis.

Look and feel Check for changes in all areas of your breast and armpit area. There is no right or wrong way. Do what works for you and feels comfortable. Some common signs and symptoms are:

Know Your Risk

cbcf.org

Reduce Your Risk

cbcf.org

Breast Cancer

Early Detection: A Life Plan

cbcf.org

Breast Cancer Your Path to Diagnosis

cbcf.org

•• Know and check your breasts •• Regular periodic health examinations.

Age 40 to 49 •• Regular Clinical Breast Examinations performed by a trained health care provider.

•• Based on personal risk factors, annual mammograms.

•• Know and check your breasts

• A new breast lump or swelling in the armpit area.

Age 49 to 69

• Unusual bruising, redness, warmth or rash in the breast area.

•• Regular screening mammograms – frequency (every 2 years or annually) based on risk.

• Nipple changes such as turning inward, crusting or discharge.

• Dimpling or puckering of the skin.

•• Regular Clinical Breast Examinations performed by a trained health care provider.

While most changes do not mean breast cancer, they do need to be checked. See your doctor about unusual changes so your doctor can examine your breasts.

Breast health brochure series Breast Cancer

Age 20 to 39

• Know your risk of developing breast cancer.

An excerpt from the breast cancer awareness brochure Early Detection: A Life Plan

Breast Cancer

Early detection: a plan for every age

As part of our commitment to serving as a trusted resource, the Region has developed a four-part brochure series aimed at providing credible and important information.

Your dollars have made it possible for the Region to introduce these, and we encourage you to make use of them. To order copies contact the Foundation at 1-866-302-2223.

+ to order copies of the breast health brochure series phone 1-866-302-2223

Age 70+

•• Know and check your breasts.

•• Annual Clinical Breast Examinations performed by a trained health care provider.

•• Discuss your need for regular mammograms with your doctor.

•• Know and check your breasts

Report to the Community 2010/11

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Safeway stores gets pink'd for breast cancer awareness month

Safeway Steps Up Grocery chain connects with communities to help the Foundation raise millions.

No one does it alone. In any endeavour, a hands-on approach works best, and when it comes to something as serious as breast cancer, many hands are needed.

Many hands, and many dollars – both of which Safeway stores across western Canada have provided over their almost ten year relationship with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Since the partnership began in 2002, Canada Safeway has raised over $8 million for breast cancer research and community projects. The October-long campaign in 2010 raised $1.8 million alone.

Those dollars were put to good use, but for Renee Hopfner, Safeway’s Director of Community Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility since 2005, the human connection - the interaction of those hands and hearts - is what matters most.

“With a high percentage of female customers and employees, we are in a fortunate position to reach out and raise awareness across western Canada,” said Renee. “It only made sense for us to join this cause.”

At its most basic, the month-long campaign consists of cashiers asking customers to donate what they can. Beyond that, each location comes up with a plan – including in-store radio messaging, scavenger hunts for healthy products, special offers to those who donate, and of course, lots of pink – culminating in an awareness weekend, for which the Foundation sent hundreds of volunteers to help spread the word.

“For me, the cashiers and customers are the heroes of the whole campaign,” said Renee. “They really put a face to the cause, and if they weren’t passionate about it, we wouldn’t be able to raise millions.”

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Report to the Community 2010/11

But the campaign goes beyond the till, and even beyond the stores. Each manager and charity captain (a Safeway employee) receives a program to work from, but it’s up to them to plan the events and circulate the information. As Renee explained, collaboration is key to the campaign’s success: “We’ve had employees organize a head shave for a fellow worker who, unfortunately, lost her battle. In Victoria, an employee planned her own half-marathon, running from location to location to raise money.

In Okotoks, they rent out a hall and have a silent auction, with live music and the local media getting involved. It’s become an annual event in the community.”

The interactions over the years, from the checkout line to the community hall, do something stat-filled literature can’t do on its own.

“Research can be a hard message to get out,” said Renee. “The language can be complicated and sometimes it’s tough to wrap your head around – it doesn’t always translate to a snappy, two-sentence statement on a poster. But as soon as you have a survivor, or a Foundation volunteer right there, in the four walls of our store, you get that connection, and people can see with their own eyes the difference they make.”

With almost 30,000 employees, and many more customers, it may seem like a stretch to call Safeway’s part in the campaign a family affair, but in many ways, that’s exactly how it comes across.

A component of their communication system is a weekly webcast, viewed by all managers across western Canada. Last October, managers viewed testimonials from Foundation volunteers, including survivors, who talked about that year’s

event and shared their stories. It was yet another face-to-face interaction, providing a personal connection that spread inspiration throughout the stores.

“This past year, because it’s been several years now, we’ve seen the wins and losses, and how short life can be,” Renee admitted. “But we all know that it’s not always about the dollars raised, it’s about the connection, even after we lose someone we’ve grown close to. We’ve had the great fortune to meet some truly fabulous people along the way. Some have succumb, and we remember them each October, and some are still struggling with the disease. We know remission isn’t indefinite, which is why we bring survivors into our stores to share their hope, and show how real this is.”

For Hopfner, like all Canada Safeway employees, the campaign’s payoff comes more from moments shared than from money raised: “We’ve had young women walk through our checkout stands and share their stories about their mothers’ journey, and they thank us. I read an editorial from a customer who came into our store and was overwhelmed by a sea of pink post-it notes, because his relative was diagnosed.

It’s just a great feeling to remind them that there are individuals and companies supporting the cause, and working towards a future without breast cancer.”

+ learn more about Safeway at safeway.ca

let's get

social

BUSTIN' LOOSE for

Breast Cancer A dedicated group set to the trails of Medicine Hat as they race their way towards a future without breast cancer.

For the last five years, Shelley Acheson and her group have been working hard. She is one of the main coordinators for the Medicine Hat ‘Bustin' Loose Race to End Breast Cancer’, and the event’s growth has been astonishing. Alarming, even.

“Some days, it really scares the crap out of me, wondering where I can warehouse all this stuff,” said Shelley, referring to the issue of her shrinking basement, which holds more pink products each year. “If we get to more than 600 people, we’re going to need more space.”

They’re getting close. Last year’s race drew over 500 participants and raised $98,000, doubling the previous year’s total and setting the stage to break their goal of $100,000 at this year’s event. It’s been a busy five years, but Shelley, and her team of ‘Boobsters’ are as hands-on as ever.

“It started as a baby event, with five of us putting it on for a co-worker who was diagnosed,” Shelley said. “Now there are ten Boobsters, and with the help of some family members, we do it all. We even make our own chilli for the event!”

The race is a bit different from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure – it’s an actual race, with a professional timer, and the route is on trails exclusively, starting in Strathcona Island Park and running along the South Saskatchewan River – but all proceeds go to the Canadian Breast Cancer + learn more about the event at bustinloose.ca

Foundation and their help is never far away.

“They’ve put a lot of trust in us and they don’t hesitate to help at all,” said Shelley.

“We usually have a rep from Calgary, come down and help us, and their guidance has been crucial, especially at the beginning.”

From humble beginnings when the Boobsters fronted all the costs on their credit cards and the ad campaign was word-of-mouth alone, to having out-oftown help and raising nearly $100,000, the Bustin’ Loose Race has seen exponential growth in just five years. They still make their own chilli though.

“The first year we hoped to get 100 people out, and ended up with 160,” said Shelley. “Now, between local businesses, the Foundation, and even a company in Calgary doing our t-shirts, we don’t have to spend any money up front and can give more money to the Foundation each year.”

At this point, one of Shelley’s main concerns is the Race growing too large for her and the Boobsters to handle on their own. Not that it would stop from her from doing her part.

“I would have never guessed we would be reaching $100,000. And some days I worry it could get too big for us to handle. When it comes to that time, we'll go to the Foundation and ask for advice and guidance.”

Like and follow the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/ NWT Region and keep up-to-date on exciting events and success stories in the Region. @CBCF_PNWT Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT CBCFPrairies

Report to the Community 2010/11

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How does the Region decide which projects to help fund?

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Call for Proposals Once a year the Region issues a call for proposals in both the Research and Breast Health Education & Awareness Community Grant streams across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Applicants are encouraged to submit their funding proposals for consideration.

Peer Reviewed Evaluation Impartial, expert peer reviewers are secured to thoroughly evaluate, rate and rank the proposals against a set of standardized criteria including: importance and originality of the proposed project; quality and feasibility of the project design; adherence to ethical principles; and fit with the purpose and requirements of the Region. Through a series of internal and external reviews, funding recommendations are put forth to the Region’s Board of Directors for final funding decisions.

Funding Awarded Approved grant recipients in all funding streams receive their funding in annual installments. They also participate in a thorough progress reporting program. Annually, the results of the Region’s funding decisions are communicated via media, the website and regional print publications.

Showing Results Grant recipients are required to share their findings with the Region through the submission of formal written reports.

"Guided by principles of rigour, accountability, fairness and transparency, the Region is committed to ensuring grant investments made on behalf of its donors and supporters are focused on impacting the lives of those most affected by breast cancer."

– Trish Bronsch, CEO, Prairies/NWT Region

Interested in applying for a grant?

Cancer research in the areas of biology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment is critical to creating a future without breast cancer. The Region strives to be the funder of choice for breast cancer research projects within Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwest Territories/Nunavut by supporting innovative and catalytic breast cancer research projects.

The Region releases a call for Breast Cancer Research Grant Proposals once a year to researchers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Grants may be awarded for individual projects for a maximum term of three (3) years with a maximum funding allocation of $125,000 per year, and must take place within the Region.

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Report to the Community 2010/11

The Breast Health Education and Awareness Community Grant Program enables health professionals to investigate issues related to living with breast cancer, and assist in the development of programs and policies in the areas of breast cancer education, assessment, intervention, diagnosis and treatment.

The Region releases a call for Breast Health Education and Awareness Community Grant Proposals once a year. Grants may be awarded for individual projects for a maximum term of two (2) years with a maximum funding allocation of $75,00 per year, and must take place within the Region.

For further information regarding timelines and full application criteria, please visit cbcf.org/prairiesnwt or call 1-866-302-2223 to speak to the Allocations Coordinator. + for more information on applying for a grant visit, cbcf.org/prairiesnwt

BREAST HEALTH EDUCATION & AWARENESS COMMUNITY Grant Profile //

Approaching Cancer Care and Prevention Holistically

The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region Eagle Moon Health Office takes a holistic approach to health, understanding that complete health encompasses mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Working with departments in the health region, the Eagle Moon Health Office (EMHO) assists with improving service delivery to better meet the needs of First Nations and Métis people by building relationships with these communities. The Office has met with First Nations Elders, health directors, and heads of Métis families to learn what their health concerns are. In these consultations, staff learned that First Nations and Métis people want health services to care for their mental, spiritual, physical and emotional sides.

Dorothy Lloyd, an Aboriginal Health Consultant with the Office has spent the last 30 years working in the health services field. She says many community members were expressing their concern about breast cancer due to the increasing number of cases of cancer in the Aboriginal population. When a colleague mentioned the Region’s grant competition program, which enables health professionals to investigate issues related to living with breast cancer and assists with the development of programs and policies in the areas of breast cancer education, assessment, intervention, diagnosis and treatment, the Eagle Moon Health Office didn’t hesitate to apply.

Awarded a Breast Health Education and Awareness Grant by the Region for a project titled Approaching Cancer Care and Prevention Holistically, the Eagle Moon Health Office is working + for more information visit, rqhealth.ca/programs/aboriginal

to enhance the mutual understanding of differing worldviews of health and wellness (traditional and western) in order to provide an enriched and more effective approach to breast cancer care and prevention.

Lloyd says the holistic model approaches individuals as a whole, considering the spirit, mind and body, whereas the western medical model adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to deal with particular aspects of an individual. “Not one model has all the answers. With both models you have a better answer.”

Lloyd says this project will bring together western service providers (western knowledge keepers) and traditional aboriginal knowledge keepers to create a forum to exchange knowledge.

The grant money from the Region will support the development of a teaching tool respectful of aboriginal cultural, while raising awareness of western services to create a more effective service.

The collaborative forums will help determine the type of tool, for example a video, booklet or screening device that would be most effective. Lloyd says she hopes the final product will end up saving lives by bringing together knowledge keepers from both worlds. Western service providers will be afforded an opportunity to learn, thus enhancing their skills and approach when working with First Nations and Métis people. Those coming from a traditional worldview will be given the chance to learn about western services, thereby enhancing accessibility.

"The bridge we can help build will increase access to expertise that exist within both worlds of health and wellness.”

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Research Grant Profile // DR. Pawan singal “Even if your finding has made a difference for one life, that is one life saved. If this works, we are talking more than a thousand per year in Canada only. Imagine what that could do around the world.”

Name: Dr. Pawan K. Singal Published: 240 papers / co-edited 25 books

Awards and acheivements: Pawan K. Singal Graduate Student Fellowship in Cardiovascular Sciences: University of Manitoba est.award in 2002.

The Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II, 2002.

University of Alberta Alumni Association Honour Award, University of Alberta Alumni Association, 2006.

Big Heart Award, Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation, For Outstanding Contributions as a Research Builder, 2006.

Dr. Pawan K. Singal, a Professor of Physiology and Director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St. Boniface General Hospital and the University of Manitoba is internationally known for his work on oxidative stress and heart failure, having made significant contributions to the medical communities’ understanding of the sequeale of heart failure.

After a research career spanning nearly 35 years, 240 published papers, 25 co-edited books and more than 50 national and international recognitions, Dr. Singal says he decided to get involved with the breast cancer cause because he knows too many women who have been affected by the disease and he began to wonder, “Could I be the solution?”

In 2010, Dr. Singal was awarded a two year grant from the Prairies/NWT Region to support his research project titled Novel Approaches in Reducing Morbidity and Mortality in Breast Cancer Patients.

With the first year complete, Dr. Singal is well on his way.

He has already made some incredible discoveries involving the use of Trastzumab and Doxorubicin, two chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of breast cancer patients.

Dr. Singal explains that the use of these two drugs is limited by the compound side effect of causing heart failure in some patients. However, he believes he has discovered why these drugs are contributing to

heart failure in some patients, and hypothesizes that there is medication which can be given to patients prior to starting Trastzumab and Doxorubicin that would mitigate or eliminate the risk of heart failure.

Dr. Singal and his team are spending time trying to determine if a synergistic effect of Trastzumab and Doxorubicin are causing an increase in oxidative stress as well an over activation of the rennin angiotensin system, a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and water (fluid) balance.

Research of this magnitude, which is designed to test this hypothesis in a very comprehensive manner requires an incredible amount of time and effort. Dr. Singal says he is incredibly grateful to the Region for funding his project for more than one year, because the extra time makes a world of difference. “The second year is absolutely crucial for us to bring back to the clinic some of the credible information in this study.”

Currently, an estimated 6,000 breast cancer patients will likely be given Trastzumab and Doxorubicin as part of their treatment protocol. It is estimated that a quarter of those will suffer from heart disease. Dr. Singal is confident his research will improve the survival rates for breast cancer patients by helping design better medical management protocols for these breast cancer patients.

Wear your best pink or dress casual to help create a future without breast cancer. cbcf.org/prairiesnwt

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Choose a date(s) for your office/workplace to GET PINK’D.

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Contact the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for promotional posters to help spread the word.

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Take donations to dress casual in support of a future without breast cancer.

+ learn more about at Dr.Singal at umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine

research grant recipients Risk reduction, treatment and diagnostic research are recognized as critical components of creating a future without breast cancer. The Region is proud to invest in a comprehensive portfolio of innovative research studies that are taking us one step closer to a future without breast cancer.

Dr. Deborah Anderson University of Saskatchewan Trafficking of EGFR/ErbB2 receptors in breast cancer cells.

Dr. Gilbert Arthur University of Manitoba Preclinical development of novel drug combinations for treatment of breast cancer.

Dr. Sambasivarao Damaraju University of Alberta Role of DNA repair genes in breast cancer susceptibility in populations: Discovery and validation of markers of prognostic and predictive value from genome association studies.

Dr. James Davie CancerCare Manitoba Sp1 and Sp3 role in the centrosome of breast cancer cells.

Dr. Spencer Gibson University of Manitoba The Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1 as a Target for breast cancer therapy.

Dr. Ing Swie Goping University of Alberta Defining the autophagic and apoptotic responses to paclitaxel in breast cancer cells.

Dr. Mary Hitt University of Alberta Development of a breast cancer-specific oncolytic virus.

Dr. Suresh Mishra University of Manitoba Role of transglutaminase 2 in breast cancer: Beyond protein crosslinking function.

Dr. Greg Moorhead University of Calgary The role of protein phosphate one (PP1) in modulating cancer susceptibility gene products of human breast cancer cells.

Dr. Darrell Mousseau University of Saskatchewan MAO-A status determines cancer progression in ER(+) breast cancer cells.

Dr. Michael Mowat University of Manitoba The role of the "deleted in liver cancer" (Dlc) tumor suppressor genes in mammary tumor metastasis.

Dr. Manijeh Pasdar University of Alberta Role of nucleophosmin (NPM) in breast cancer development and progression.

Dr. Afshin Raouf University of Manitoba IGFBP-rp1 mediates mammary stem cell function.

Dr. Pawan Singal University of Manitoba Novel approaches in reducing morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients.

Dr. Barbara Walley University of Calgary Virtual breast cancer survivorship clinic: assessing the need in Alberta.

Dr. Michael Weinfeld Cross Cancer Institute DNA repair and cell death in breast tumor initiating cells.

Dr. Jian Yang University of Saskatchewan Investigating the therapeutic effects of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) against human breast cancer.

opportunity grant recipients The Region's Opportunity Grant Program is open year-round and offers funding for one time events and/or support for the production of materials.

Breast Friends Society, Edmonton, AB International Breast Cancer Survivor Festival 2010 To support attendance at two days of capacity building workshops held in conjunction with the 3rd Annual International Breast Cancer Survivor Festival.

CancerCare Manitoba Breast Cancer Centre of Hope, Winnipeg, MB Manitoba Breast and Women’s Cancer Network Annual Meeting and Education Day A day essential to building the capacity of the Network to meet the needs of Manitobans by educating community volunteers and healthcare providers working in breast and women’s cancer on topics related to breast health.

+ for more information on applying for a grant visit, cbcf.org

Parkland Breast & Women’s Cancer Network, Dauphin, MB Wellness Day Presentations and displays provided over 100 women and teens of the Parkland region with information on breast health and breast cancer as well as cancer prevention and healthy living (healthy eating, exercise and stress reduction).

Westman Breast and Women’s Cancer Network (Assiniboine and Brandon Region), Brandon, MB Healthy Choices – Healthy Women Workshop The Healthy Choices – Healthy Women Workshop provided practical information about a variety of health topics focusing on breast and women's cancers and other aspects of women's health.

Westman Breast and Women’s Cancer Network 25 Communities in the Assiniboine/Brandon Region Link to Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness Project The Network was able to reach further out to the diverse cultural communities in the region, including First Nations, Hutterite and new immigrant women.

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Adolescent Breast Health: Strategic Enhancement of Be PINK/Vivre en rose

Growing and Sustaining the Manitoba Breast and Women’s Cancer Network

CancerCare Manitoba, Breast Cancer Centre of Hope (BCCH ) CancerCare Manitoba, Breast Cancer Centre of Hope (BCCH) –The BCCH’s mandate is to enhance the quality of breast cancer care for The purpose of growing and sustaining the Manitoba Breast and all Manitobans through the provision of a province-wide breast health/ Women’s Cancer Network is to increase the availability and accessibilcancer information, support and referral service. ity of breast and women’s cancer information, education and support The purpose of Be PINK/Vivre en rose is to empower high school across the continuum of cancer care in the province. The BCCH plans students with the knowledge they need to make healthy lifestyle choices to accomplish this by planning health education events, partnering to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer in the future. The project with existing groups/initiatives, sharing resources and best practice is currently targeting high school students and educators in Manitoba, methodologies and collaborating to identify priorities for residents Saskatchewan and Alberta. Some of the activities include integrating a of Manitoba. The hope is that the increased awareness and focus on 17 minute Be PINK DVD into schools in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and early detection will help create a future without breast cancer.

Alberta, partnering with other groups such as Faculties of Nursing, Women’s Health and Fitness educators and Community Health Wellness Facilitators for the delivery of this resource. Project workers are trying to make more educators aware of this resource to increase its use, ultimately ensuring a greater number of adolescents learn about breast health education & awareness community breast health, breast cancer, and the healthy lifestyle choices they can make now and throughout their lifetime to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

grant recipients

IRTC Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Health Initiative for Newcomers

Interlake Reserves Tribal Council Inc. (IRTC) – this council provides advisory, consultation and service delivery of programs to its many member First Nations to enhance First Nations people’s rights, languages, customs and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

The project was created to raise breast cancer awareness among First Nations women, men and teenagers by developing First Nation specific posters for use in education, prevention and awareness campaigns.

Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) – The CIWA is the only immigrant service agency in Calgary offering all female programs and services. The Association offers 30 programs in over 100 community locations to assist with settlement and integration, language training and childcare, employment services, family services and volunteer and community development.

The purpose of this initiative is to increase breast health awareness and practices among 500-600 immigrant/refugee women who have recently arrived in Calgary and area who are new to Canada and unfamiliar with breast health and available services or have never engaged in breast cancer screening practices or are not able to easily access screening centers. This project will use a newly developed Breast Health Curriculum to facilitate educational sessions. The CIWA hopes that by providing culturally sensitive breast health information and services to a highly vulnerable sector of the Canadian population, it ensures these women have regular breast health preventative care.

Charting the Journey of Chinese Women with Breast Cancer and the Role of Health Literacy University of Calgary, Calgary Chinese Community Service Association and Literacy Alberta –This project will take two years to complete and it is hoped it will improve health care delivery by adjusting and adapting it to the diverse populations it serves, especially visible minorities to facilitate a deeper understanding that is just as diverse as cancer is.

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Approaching Cancer Care & Prevention Holistically Eagle Moon Health Office, Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region – The Eagle Moon Health Office works with departments in the health region to assist with improving service delivery to better meet the needs and improve health outcomes of First Nations and Metis people. The office achieves this goal by building relationships with the First Nations and Metis communities, connecting them with health workers to collaborate and work toward meeting the holistic health needs of the population.

The goal of this project is to enhance mutual understanding of differing worldviews of health and wellness (traditional and western) that would provide an enriched and more effective approach to breast cancer care and prevention. This project will develop a teaching tool that will respect aboriginal cultural ways and help raise awareness of western services, thus enhancing accessibility.

Team Shan Alberta & Saskatchewan Breast Cancer Awareness for Young Women Project Team Shan Breast Cancer Awareness for Young Women – Team Shan is dedicated to raising awareness that breast cancer is not just a disease of older women. Team Shan’s purpose is to educate the public, health care professionals and young women about early detection, risk reduction and the prevention of breast cancer.

The goal of this project is to implement a comprehensive breast cancer awareness campaign on and around post-secondary school sites in Alberta and Saskatchewan by implementing and evaluating a multi-faceted breast cancer awareness campaign that involves marketing activities, campus media and print resource distribution.

Breast Cancer & Health Awareness Project (BCHAP) Calgary Chinese Community Services Association (CCCSA) – The CCCSA’s mission is to empower current and future generations of Chinese in the community by acting as a bridge to mainstream institutions and organizations.

The purpose of the Breast Cancer & Health Awareness Project is to raise awareness of breast cancer/breast health in the Chinese community and to increase Chinese patients’ access to health services by engaging the community through volunteers. The CCCSA will be hosting monthly workshops and a Breast Cancer Awareness Carnival, which will include a breast cancer awareness play produced by Chinese youth volunteers.

The Association will also be developing a cancer resource navigation guide for Chinese patients, and plans to get community members involved in promoting population health.

The goal of the project is to increase community knowledge of breast cancer and encourage screening and early diagnosis, which will hopefully lead to less people losing their lives to this disease.

Breast Health Awareness for Hard to Reach Women in South Asian Community Indo-Canadian Women’s Association – The association is committed to full participation of immigrant and visible minority women in every aspect of life. They provide guidance to clients to assist them in coping with everyday problems such as housing, transportation and access to social and health services. They do this by organizing special events, projects, workshops, lecture sessions, health fairs, and conferences for groups from South Asian communities.

The main objective of this project is to educate hard to reach South Asian immigrant women on breast health issues and early detection methods. The Association holds awareness workshops in a variety of languages, and takes religious and cultural sensitivity into consideration in hopes that more South Asian women will get screened for breast cancer. This project will provide support and care to recently diagnosed South Asian breast cancer patients from their own linguistic support group. Policy makers, health and wellness professionals, community groups, and staff of health related organizations will be informed according to cultural and religious sensitivity. The Indo-Canadian Women’s Association hopes this project will increase trust and acceptance levels, as information will be delivered by their own cultural community leaders in their own languages, within their own cultural community boundaries. Promotional and educational material will be in their language, reducing barriers in the hopes that this will increase interest in regular breast screening which will affect survival rates due to early detection.

Healing Through Art Program Phase Two NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group – this group’s mandate is to increase and improve breast health awareness in the Northwest Territories and information and support services for NWT women and families affected by breast cancer.

This project will develop and pilot a psycho-social support program for breast cancer patients in a NWT regional centre. The program uses creative expression through art and facilitated discussion to reduce isolation and provide support. Program participants will be breast cancer patients from the regional centre and surrounding small communities, who are in or have recently completed treatment. Local artists and therapists will receive training and a draft program manual for facilitating Healing Through Art sessions. It is hoped that breast cancer survivors in NWT remote communities will experience increased support, hope and healing and the participant’s art exhibit will try to raise public awareness of breast cancer in the NWT and contribute to prevention of risk factors and increased early detection of breast cancer.

Breast Health Awareness: Empowering Immigrant Women in Central Alberta Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association – the Association’s goal is to empower the immigrant community in central Alberta by raising the level of awareness of immigrant women and their families and assisting them in achieving their full potential as members of Canadian society.

The goal of this project is to increase awareness and understanding of breast cancer among immigrant women living in Central Alberta in order to create a greater climate of support for immigrant women and families who may be at risk now and years to come in Red Deer, Lacombe, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Innisfail and Rocky Mountain House.

Project creators believe when people learn and understand how breast cancer can be prevented, they will have regular self examination and regular physical check-ups which will enable them to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

Multicultural Breast Health Peer Educator Project ASSIST Community Services Centre – ASSIST works to address the needs of the immigrant population in Edmonton. Its goal is to enhance the lives of individuals and families through quality programs and services like language training, emerging community needs, employment training referral, citizenship, immigration and health and wellness programs.

The Multicultural Breast Health (MBH) Peer Educator Project provides services for hard-to-reach individuals of six ethnic communities: Arabic, Chinese, Somali, South Asian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Educators will provide one-on-one support to women with breast health issues and set up support groups for immigrant women with breast cancer. It’s hoped the project will reach between 1,500 and 2,000 women through different activities including workshops, displays, informal gathering, mammogram service, one-on-one support services, support groups and a Multicultural Breast Health Event. The project’s goal is to promote breast health awareness and early detection to women of the 6 identified ethnic communities by recruiting many volunteers to help in screening mammogram services, educators will develop posters, flyers and brochures that translate literatures into different languages to meet the need of their members. + for more information on applying for a grant visit, cbcf.org

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Working together to create a future without breast cancer It’s a relationship that’s spawned one of the most recognized fundraising events in the country. CIBC's Angela Sarino talks about the bank and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation working together for nearly 20 years, and where they’re at today.

Can you talk about how the CIBC-Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation relationship began?

CIBC can trace its relationship with the Foundation back to the year of the first Run in 1992. As new sites were added, many CIBC employees across the country got involved both as volunteers and participants. With the large number of women working at CIBC, it was fitting that we take on a leadership role in raising money to improve detection and treatment of breast cancer, which was the number one cause of death in women at the time. By 1994, we had become a national sponsor of the event.

Our employees fully embraced the cause and took a great deal of ownership and pride in CIBC’s support of this event.

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Team CIBC took up the challenge each year, consistently raising the most money in almost all Run sites. In 1997, CIBC became title sponsor of the event, and the Run has been know as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure ever since.

What does the Run for the Cure mean to CIBC today? How has its involvement with the Run for the Cure worked so well over the years?

Today, the Run for the Cure is part of our corporate DNA, with support embraced at every level of employee from the frontline staff to the CEO, whether as a volunteer, donor or participant. Critical to our success I believe is that this began as a grassroots movement within CIBC, one

that is very much alive today. In that time, Team CIBC has raised more than $26 million for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.

Outside of donations, how does CIBC contribute to the event?

CIBC has been very involved in the development of the Run for the Cure right from the beginning. With our network of almost 1,100 branches across the country from Victoria, to Iqaluit to Corner Brook we’ve been able to raise awareness of the Run for the Cure in every corner of Canada. This is evident in the fact that the first year that CIBC came on as title sponsor, the Run for the Cure was able to expand from 10 sites to 18, and it’s been growing every since.

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Warm up at run for the cure 2010

What kind of feedback have you received, from employees and customers, regarding CIBC’s major participation in the search to create a future without breast cancer?

TEAM CIBC At run for the cure 2010

We’ve also helped develop the event’s marketing campaign, coming up with the iconic ‘Who are you running for?™’ and ‘Think Pink™’ taglines.

Today, CIBC contributes to the Run for the Cure in a variety of ways: • Marketing support – mass marketing campaign (print, online, digital, and historically, TV coverage), • The bank also provides public awareness through all of marketing channels (bank machines, telephone banking, credit card statements/statement envelope messaging, in branch digital screens, and others) • PR – both through employee engagement tactics or external promotions of the Run for the Cure • Volunteers – approximately 6,000 volunteers throughout the Run for the Cure fundraising campaign (July – October) • CIBC staff support – 2½ dedicated staff, plus marketing/communications staff support • Banking services in kind • National cause marketing campaign, CIBC Pink Collection – currently raises approx. $1.5 million for the cause annually.

+ for more information visit, cibc.com

How did the 2010 Run for the Cure go? Can you talk about the day?

It was fantastic! The participants, volunteers and Foundation staff outdid themselves raising a record $33 million across the country. At CIBC alone, we had some 13,000 employees and their families’ participant in some way. The day is always full of emotion as we see families and friends running together for a common goal – a future without breast cancer.

What about the Prairies/NWT Region’s Youth Strategy Program.

How did CIBC become involved in this program?

In 2008, CIBC launched the Breast Cancer Fund to support initiatives beyond the Run for the Cure. The Prairies/NWT Region’s Youth Strategy was a priority for CIBC, so we provided funds to support the program because it synched up well with CIBC’s commitment to students.

For 2011, CIBC will create the CIBC Education Awards. We will be giving out 15 awards totaling $150,000 to the top student fundraisers across Canada in the Run for the Cure. This initiative is intended to encourage students to participate in a way that is both meaningful and fun. The challenge will also build awareness of the importance of taking steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer by leading healthy lifestyles.

We have widespread support. We know of people who didn’t know anyone who was diagnosed when they became involved, and then the disease struck them personally. We know of those who were screened early because of the awareness we’ve spread internally. It is so powerful when we hear about those, who because of screening, detected breast cancer at an early stage, and of those through improved treatment have seen their quality of life improve dramatically.

Could you talk about how you personally became involved with the cause?

I started as a volunteer myself, not knowing anyone affected. Today, unfortunately, I know too many, some of whom are no longer with us. Ruth and Erin are in my thoughts, reminding me each day why we continue this battle. For those I meet who are currently enduring, they inspire me to find new ways of engaging our employees and the public in raising funds. We know that breast cancer comes in many shapes and sizes, and there is no one cure for the disease. But with each dollar raised, we are taking important steps to make real changes in the lives of the women and men and their families who are impacted by this disease.

Where do you see the CIBCCanadian Breast Cancer Foundation relationship going in the future?

What is the collective goal?

We have a great relationship and are looking forward to continuing for many years to come. Our goal is simply to create a future without breast cancer. We’ve made great strides, but we still have a long way to go.

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Running towards a future Millions raised as thousands of people across the country come together 18 //

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Running towards a future “The feeling is so overwhelming, it’s tough to put into words.”

The feeling is familiar for anyone who’s heard the dreadful diagnosis, and that quote could have come from any one of the survivors who talked about their struggle with breast cancer, but it didn’t. When asked what it was like to hear the news, each survivor responded with a diagnosis date and little else, as if saying much more would give the cancer too much credit. They used the above quote, or something close, to describe the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. They all wanted to talk about the Run for the Cure, and the growing number of events that support it. It’s easy to see why. ‘Overwhelming’ seems like a perfectly suitable word to describe the largest volunteer-led, single-day national event in support of breast cancer. The 2010 Run for the Cure, held on October 3rd, brought together over 170,000 participants (13,000 from CIBC alone), in 60 communities across the country, and raised a record-breaking $33 million in one day.

But those numbers, while utterly impressive and wholly appreciated, were not the reason each survivor, volunteer and participant spoke so reverently about the Run for the Cure, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2011. Their thanks for those who donated and made the Run for the Cure happen was implicit, but their fond words were for the feelings they shared at the event itself.

Diane Martin, from Calgary, was diagnosed in 2000, and again in 2007. She started volunteering for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation shortly after, and eventually became part of the committee tasked with organizing and promoting the Run for the Cure in Calgary. It’s a lot of planning, to put it mildly,

as everything from finding

fundraisers to setting run routes needs to be in place well in advance. “It’s like a smaller version of the Olympics – everything needs to be planned, right down to the porta-potties,” Diane said. “We’re the largest single-day volunteer-led group that runs a large scale, national event, so in order to make the Run for the Cure happen, the volunteers have to be incredibly dedicated.”

Diane’s initial diagnosis couldn’t have come at a worse time, “I was diagnosed in May, and my father had just recently passed away, after being diagnosed with lung cancer only two weeks before that,” Diane said. “My first thought was ‘Oh my god, I have cancer, and I only have two weeks to live.”

In May of 2007 Diane’s breast cancer returned, on the same side as before, which meant she couldn’t receive radiation treatment and would need a stronger blast of chemotherapy.

“It was a different feeling when I reoccurred, knowing the chemo was coming, that I was not going to feel good, and that I’d go bald again,” Diane said. “All I could do was put on my warrior face and say ‘I’m going to win’.”

And she did, though her warrior face was really part of an ensemble. “When I went bald, I bought lots of hats so I didn’t scare the neighbourhood kids,” Diane said. “One year I went as a bald eagle for Halloween, with a big beak and everything.”

Diane’s connection with kids continues at the Run for the Cure, as well. “People talk about ‘kids these days’ being spoiled, or

ungrateful, or whatever, but I’ve seen them break their piggy banks and count out every penny they can give, and it’s really heart warming because they’re doing it for us. But it’s their future we’re trying to make breast cancer-free.”

After a third surgery in ’08, Diane has been clear ever since, and she played a large part in helping the 7,000+ Calgary participants raise over $1.7 million in October 2010.

Two provinces east, in Winnipeg, Lorraine Cyr has volunteered for the Run for the Cure ever since she was diagnosed in August of 1998. She first walked the 1km route, one month after surgery, then the 5km route with her 10-year-old granddaughter the next year. In 2000, she entered a team of five people that her daughter-in-law named "Bouncing Beauties." The Beauties

have grown to a core of ten, joined each year by about 20 "Bouncing Beauties Buddies."

The Beauties have launched another fundraising event, in support of the Run for the Cure, that came about when, as Lorraine explained, “a team member suggested that instead of asking for pledges, we could try gift wrapping Christmas presents at the mall. As it happened, the mall’s marketing director was away on maternity leave and hadn’t arranged that season’s gift wrapping, so we helped each other out.”

Starting the third week of every November they have almost 300 people working four-hour shifts, wrapping gifts right up to Christmas Eve. Since 2002, the Bouncing Beauties, and their growing number of Buddies, have raised over $200,000.

“I have three granddaughters, and they are the main reason I’ve stayed so involved,” said Lorraine. “I was so emotionally affected by having cancer, but the main thing that went through my mind was ‘what if they got it?’ I couldn’t bear it.”

Diane Martin Photograph by: Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald. Reprinted with permission of the Calgary Herald.

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Shellie Johannesson’s children have also played a part in furthering her involvement with the Foundation and Run for the Cure.

It was from their suggestion that, in Winnipeg last April, Shellie rented a hall and held a celebration for survivors of all types of cancer, and the people who support them. Her children pushed her to have it early in 2011 because it marked her tenth year being both a part of the Run for the Cure, and breast cancer-free.

“We called it the ‘Celebration of Life Social’, and the theme was ‘Live, Laugh, Love’,” said Shellie. “I’ve been blessed to be alive and involved these ten years, and I’ve seen just how many people are affected. It’s not just the person who has cancer, but also the people around them who in some way have been touched by it.

People came out in droves – the social was sold out weeks before the event.”

The social honoured 12 cancer survivors, and presented each with a Swarovski crystal heart containing a pink breast cancer ribbon, which matched the pink banners, candles, table cloths and flowers that filled the hall. It was, as Shellie said, “an incredible evening of love and hope,” culminating in over $8,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.

And every dollar counts. “Not everyone can put on a social or contribute large sums of money,” said Shellie, “but every single person can do some small gesture to help the fight for a cure. It doesn’t have to be a lot because each small contribution goes to the bigger picture. Reaching out in some small way is what it’s all about.”

Back in Calgary, Rob Rakochey is a rarity. Not just because he was one of last year’s top individual fundraisers at over $25,600, but because his family has not immediately been affected by breast cancer. Clearly, this hasn’t stopped him from giving his time, money and connections, though things started small, five years ago, when his firm first got

a group together for the Run for the Cure.

“The first couple years, it was just a fun thing to do with my family and the firm”, Rob said. “When the official firm team stopped, we just did our own thing, raising money, meeting our personal goals, and that was that. Then four years ago, my son’s godfather, Jason Woodbridge, donated some of his world famous wines as incentives for our supporters. I told the people I approached for pledges that a $500 donation would get the bottle, and it was snatched up instantly. The next year I made it $750 and it was snatched up again.”

And he’s continued raising more money each year, but like anyone who’s spent a single second at the Run for the Cure, Rob

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realized early that the dollars raised aren’t the most impressive part. It’s the people.

“The neat thing that always impresses me is the neighbourhood people standing along the route, cheering you on,” said Rob. “But it’s not just one person per block, it’s a bunch of people every fifth house. And this is in a neighbourhood, not along a highway, so for many people, these are their streets. They didn’t sign up for it, but they’re out there helping just the same.”

They are out there helping, in droves, as last year’s Run for the Cure showed. Regardless of age, or connection to the disease itself, thousands of people come out each year to donate their money and time to the cause. But they are also looking to connect – they want to see the people they’re helping and lend a literal shoulder to cry on. Unfortunately, thousands of people are diagnosed each year, too, and like those who sacrifice their street for the Run, they didn’t sign up for it either.

Last year was a huge success, but the truth is, ever year is special. Every year someone breaks a record, or celebrates a tenth anniversary, or starts a new fundraiser, or becomes more dedicated to the cause. Just like every year witnesses more people walking, more people helping, and most importantly, more people wearing survivor shirts.

Run for the Cure 2010 Results Site Total Dollars Participants* Raised†

Brandon 748 $134,379 Calgary 7,465 $1,718,283 Edmonton 9,531 $1,802,460 Fort McMurray 815 $259,175 Iqaluit 70 $35,516 Lethbridge 950 $215,316 Red Deer 1,353 $318,969 Regina 2,373 $511,080 Saskatoon 2,058 $436,433 Winnipeg 5,720 $967,891 Total

31,083 $6,399,502

+ learn more at cbcf.org

Dr. Carol Cass

Foundation funded tumour bank makes progress It’s a unique idea, a complex combination and a promising project that could facilitate discoveries with the potential to create a future without breast cancer.

It’s a unique idea, a complex combination and a promising project that could facilitate discoveries with the potential to create a future without breast cancer.

The CBCF Tumor Bank, formerly the Alberta Research Tumor Bank, was created in 2005 by merging components of two existing tumor-banking initiatives - the Calgary Laboratory Services Repository and the tumor bank of the PolyomX Program in Edmonton.

Since that time, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region has awarded over 4 million dollars in grant funding to support the development, growth and sustainability of the CBCF Tumor Bank.

Dr. Carol Cass, Principal Investigator on the grants from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation that funded the CBCF Tumor Bank says, “What the Foundation had the courage to do was provide us with a large infrastructure grant to transform the very high quality but individual investigator initiated programs into a provincial open access tumor bank for researchers in Alberta and elsewhere.”

The CBCF Tumor Bank is a storage house for voluntarily donated cancerous tissue and blood samples which may be accessed by medical researchers to further investigation of the disease. The identi-

ties of the patients who choose to donate samples are highly protected, but the associated medical histories of the tissue and blood samples are a crucial component to helping the researchers understand the cancer better.

Dr. Sambasivarao Damaraju, Director of the CBCF Tumor Bank, says, “The creation of the CBCF Tumor Bank offered access to very high quality human specimens, a prerequisite for translational research to understand the molecular complexity of each individual’s tumor; to eventually help target and optimize treatments based on molecular signatures specific for individuals, away from the current ‘one size-fits all’ approach in the treatment modalities.”

Dr. Cass explains that samples contained within the CBCF Tumor Bank are supplied to researchers who are undertaking research projects with varying goals and hypotheses.

“One example would be researchers who are trying to identify new targets for cancer therapies. With access to samples from the tumor bank, they can figure out if there are patterns of genetic change emerging for particular cancer types. A hopeful outcome would be the development of new treatments targeted at those patterns which could possibly increase survival rates.”

+ learn more about the work of the Tumour Bank at abtumorbank.com

Dr. Damaraju says he believes the Region’s continuous funding helped the translation of banking efforts into successful and focused research projects. “With a solid foundation of samples and associated data, along with strong human resource capabilities and operating structures, the CBCF Tumor Bank is well positioned to play a critical role in supporting leading edge cancer research in Canada.”

Already, incredible things are happening at the CBCF Tumor Bank. Samples have helped researchers make advancements on projects aimed at understanding the molecular complexity within triple negative breast cancers with poor prognosis that are difficult to treat; how to handle the recurrence of the disease following treatments; and genome-wide search for genes to explain the heritability of disease.

It’s donor dollars and funds raised through Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation events in the Prairies/NWT Region that have been granted to projects like the CBCF Tumor Bank, and it’s those dollars that have made these advancements possible. Perhaps one day it will be a discovery made here that will make it so that no one will ever be affected by this devastating disease again.

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Batter Up

The Prairies/NWT Region continues to take a swing at breast cancer across the Region in a fun-filled event.

BATTING AGAINST BREAST CANCER™

2010 Results SITE

Number of Teams

Dollars Raised

Calgary 14 $105,000 Edmonton 29 $140,000 Saskatoon 5 $33,000 Winnipeg 31 $105,000

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Report to the Community 2010/11

R

oss MacIver has participated in the last four Winnipeg Batting Against Breast Cancer slo-pitch tournaments, one of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s – Prairies/NWT Region’s signature fundraising events.

“I’ve been participating in this event since the second year it’s been in Winnipeg,” said Ross. “We are a senior’s team and we heard about the breast cancer part of the event. A lot of the seniors had an involvement with the breast cancer cause one way or another, so we decided this was a good fit. Each member on the team actually is a cancer survivor of one kind or another.”

Originating in Edmonton in 2004, Batting Against Breast Cancer has expanded to Winnipeg, Calgary and Saskatoon, becoming a perennial event for participants such as Ross.

Each year seems to yield more and more participants as the tournament gains notoriety. In both Edmonton and Winnipeg, they consistently have maximum registration for their events, with Calgary and Saskatoon increasing their team numbers every year. Between the aforementioned cities, the 2010 Batting Against Breast Cancer tournament raised a total of $388,000.

This number is thanks to the fundraising efforts of the registered participants. Ross, who has acted as the Senior Division Advisor in years past, has played a key role in expanding the Seniors Division, which alone raised $10,000 for the 2010 event.

“The players go out and get pledges from companies and relatives.

Some teams deal with corporations to help fundraise.”

Each city is different in order to meet specific needs, but in Winnipeg, the event is broken up into four divisions: Fun/ Family, Corporate, Recreational and Senior. While the event can draw some pretty competitive people, Ross says everyone is there because they have some sort of connection to breast cancer. “It’s a bare bones tournament. Everyone who attends realizes what people dealing with breast cancer are going through. Most of the participants are in the same situation as us: either they are survivors or have known someone else afflicted.”

This fact alone sets Batting Against Breast Cancer apart from other slo-pitch tournaments. Teams show up decked out in various outfits with pink as the underlying theme. Prizes for best dressed, top team and individual fundraisers and, of course, a trophy given to the winning teams are all incorporated into the day. The funfilled atmosphere is accompanied by live music, concession stands and activities for kids to enjoy in completing the packaged event.

With the success of 2010 still fresh on everyone’s minds, and the expansion of Batting Against Breast Cancer into a second city in Saskatchewan – Regina – for 2011, the Foundation and repeat participants like Ross and his crew have a lot to look forward to for the coming years. Increased support year after year, which helps bring in new participants, and heightened awareness of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and their vision of creating a future without breast cancer, will continue to help the Prairies/NWT Region “take a swing at breast cancer” with this signature event.

+ participate in Batting Against Breast Cancer, for more info visit cbcf.org

Ross Maciver and team at Batting Agasinst Breast Cancer™ 2010 in Winnipeg.

Thank You The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region would like to express our thanks to the following corporations for their support of Batting Against Breast Cancer 2010 as Presenting and Regional Sponsors.

Saskatoon Presenting Sponsor

Winnipeg Presenting Sponsor

Calgary Presenting Sponsors

Regional Sponsors

Report to the Community 2010/11

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Supporters of BATTING AGAINST BREAST CANCER Without the support of sponsors, participants and volunteers, this event would not be possible. Here are a few of the people whose dedication to the cause is making a difference:

DIAMOND DIVAS

Team Hildergaards

TEAM b.REST

Diamond Divas – Calgary Just a week before Batting Agasint Breast Cancer 2010, a group of strangers came together to form the Diamond Divas.

Organized through the Alberta Fun Seekers League, this team had such a great time they made the commitment to take part again in 2011 and even went as far as forming a second team.

For Diamond Diva Barb Long, getting involved and raising money was an easy choice because of the cause. “For me personally, I just told everyone this is the ONLY fundraising I do throughout the year. The good folks in our league were very generous at several of our fundraising events and every little bit counts. We had one player shamelessly shave her head to raise funds! We also have a player that has survived breast cancer so she is a great motivator for all of us!”

Team Hildergaards – Winnipeg Team Hildergaards was formed by Debby Hygaard in 2007 shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Debby thought the event would be a great way to enjoy the family’s favorite sport while supporting a great cause. Her daughter Elizabeth says the tournament is a cherished event for her family. “My mom started this team with hopes of seeing many more tournaments.

She passed away a few months after the first. My mom was the first team captain to sign up in Winnipeg, so they adopted a dedication banner to her for the 2nd annual tournament”. While Elizabeth admits it’s not easy to raise money year after year, she says her mom’s memory motivates the whole team. “She was so excited about this and if she was still with us she would be just as excited for the next year as the first. Helping the cause will help with others with breast cancer and hopefully we are one step closer to a cure.”

Team B.Rest – Edmonton Team B.Rest has consistently been a top fundraising team in Edmonton’s Batting Against Breast Cancer Tournament.

Team captain Trevor Suer’s grandmother and two great aunts are breast cancer survivors. Suer says his team is motivated because they all have been affected by the disease in one way or another and they wanted to make a difference. “Batting was an easy choice for our team, as we all play ball multiple times a week, and most weekends. We thought we could use our skills towards a good cause.”

Presenting Sponsor Cameco – Saskatoon It’s not only participants who feel passionate about this event, businesses are stepping up to the plate to strike out breast cancer as well. Cameco was the proud sponsor for the 2010 Saskatoon Batting Against Breast Cancer tournament. Karen Lendzyk, Cameco's corporate relations coordinator, says the company was pleased to partner with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to help bring this event to Saskatoon. “Cameco is committed to Making a Difference in our community and this event does make a difference for women battling breast cancer. The event is a fun-filled day for all involved, particularly the teams who raise significant dollars for the cause”.

24 //

Report to the Community 2010/11

+ participate in Batting Against Breast Cancer, for more info visit cbcf.org

Designed for Women 2010 marked the 6th year of the Curves for a Cure program.

Throughout October 2010, 75 Curves clubs across the Region raised awareness and over $101,000 for the Foundation by hosting a variety of events in their locations including head shaves, silent auctions, merchandise sales and other fun and exciting activities for their members.

Curves is a gym designed specifically for women, focusing on a full-body workout in a half-hour circuit. Since the partnership between the two organizations began in 2005, franchises in the Prairies/NWT Region have raised an incredible $636,000 in support of a future without breast cancer.

Regina Curves puts the ‘fun’ in fundraising “Strengthening women is what we’re all about,” said Sandi Ellert, co-owner of Curves Regina whose club raised over $6,700, taking home honours for the top fundraising club in Saskatchewan.

Ellert is dedicated to helping the Foundation through her clubs because of the members she knows who have been affected by the disease. “Everyone knows someone who has had breast cancer,” said Ellert. “Mothers, sisters, friends…that’s why we do this.”

Creative fundraising brings joy to members On October 19, Edmonton Southwest Curves hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

Club owner Joann Hendricks wanted to find a unique way to engage the local community, so they came up with an event that turned out to be a lot of fun.

Local and home-based businesses were invited to set up a display table at the event in exchange for providing 5 pre-wrapped gifts. For a $5 donation, members were given a balloon with a number inside that coincided with a corresponding prize number.

+ learn more about the Curves for a Cure program at cbcf.org/curvesforacure

Plessis Curves shows their brave spirit Friends, family and members of Plessis Curves came together on November 10 to witness owners Jill Dowson and Ann Suderman uphold a pledge to Brave The Shave if $5,000 was raised in support of the Foundation.

Richmond Curves pulls out all the stops Charmaine Bucknor and Paddy Constance, owners of the Richmond Curves in Calgary, along with staff and members pulled out all the stops in 2010, raising $2,226.

Richmond Curves takes pride not only in the physical results achieved by members, but also in fostering a nurturing social atmosphere that can be felt that moment you enter the club.

With lives to celebrate and lives to remember, the club launched its Wall of Bras fundraiser. With a minimum $2 donation, members could write a special message on a pink paper bra. All messages were then posted in the club. In addition, members also contributed by participating in a silent auction, purchasing tickets and t-shirts and taking part in the Push-ups for a Cause challenge.

Top 2010 Fundraising Clubs Manitoba . . . . . . Lakewood $11,718 Saskatchewan. . . Regina, $6,768 Alberta South. . . Lethbridge Downtown, $4,649 Alberta North. . . Sherwood Park, $2,556

Report to the Community 2010/11

// 25

Regional Financial Summary The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to finding the optimal balance between dollars invested in grants and other cause-related work, and dollars spent on fundraising and other necessary expenditures. Our goal is to maximize our causerelated spending.

As a registered Canadian charity, the Foundation complies with generally accepted accounting standards. In order to maintain charitable registration, the Foundation files annual financial and charitable activity reports with Canada Revenue Agency, and conducts audits of annual financial statements. The Foundation has intentionally designed thoroughness and rigor wherever possible

to limit risk and provide sound protection of investments on behalf of our stakeholders. Strong financial management will enable us to continue our efforts and clearly show how funds are raised and demonstrate effective utilization.

The following financial information represents a regional perspective. Although the Foundation prepares budgets at a regional level, the Foundation operates under one charitable registration number in Canada, filing financial returns and annual audits on a consolidated national basis. Information herein relating to charitable activities and grant allocations is regionally reflective.

Regional Financial Highlights – Year Ending March 31st, 2011 Revenue The Prairies/NWT Region is honoured to have the support of our donors, sponsors, community and corporate partners and volunteers who raised raised $12.2 million in fiscal 2010/2011, representing 27% of funds raised across the country for the cause.

A large portion of the money raised for a future without breast cancer comes from special events such as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. In fiscal 2010/11 the Run for the Cure accounted for 53% of the Region’s revenues. The Foundation is also supported by corporate sponsorships, individual donations, cause related marketing and other special events.

8% Third Party Events & Rural Partnerships

3% Other Investment/ Gaming/Product

53% Run for the Cure

9% Direct Mail and Individual Programs

Distributions and Expenses The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region is committed to funding breast cancer research, education and awareness campaigns intended to create a future without breast cancer. In order to accomplish our vision, the Foundation engages in major fundraising events, while working closely with volunteers, corporate and community partners to enhance opportunities for people to get involved or contribute to the cause.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is committed to allocating donor dollars responsibly to maximize the impact of our strategic research, education and awareness initiatives, thereby aspiring to deliver transparency and accountability in our financial reporting, and as such, recognizes attributable overhead costs in fundraising expenses. The chart below accurately reflects the total distribution of the Region’s $12.2 million.

28% Reserved for future Granting*

34% Fundraising Costs

12% Corporate Programs

15% Special Events

7% Cost of Operations

19% Grant Allocations

3% Core Services 3% Volunteer, Community, and Donor Relations

5% Health Promotion and Education

*In the 2010/11fiscal year, the Prairies/NWT Region conducted an evaluative review of its Research and Breast Health Education & Awareness Community Grant Programs. As a result, significant changes regarding term and maximum awardable dollars were implemented in both programs. Breast Health Education & Awareness Community Grant annual allocations limits were increased from $50,000 to $75,000, while the maximum term length of a grant increased from one year to two. The change in term and limits resulted in the largest Breast Health Education and Awareness allocation in the history of the Region at $1.7 million. Funding limits for Research Grants were increased from $100,000 per year to $125,000 per year, while the maximum term length of a grant was increased from two years to three. The evaluation process and subsequent changes caused a delay in the Region’s Research Grant call for 2010/11. Due to the timing change, the bridged amount for the increased grant award in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011 appears in this report as an amount “Reserved for Future Granting”. The Prairies/NWT Board of Directors approved $8.3 million on July 26, 2011, which utilized the bridged amount.

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Report to the Community 2010/11

Regional Financial Summary Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation PRAIRIES/NWT REGION income statement for the year ending march 31, 2011

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation PRAIRIES/NWT REGION balance sheet for the twelve months ending march, 2011

*Unaudited – Please see note below

*Unaudited – Please see note below

Actual

Prior Year

Assets 5,067,486

4,365,359

Investments held in National Pool

21,117,132

16,184,157

Accounts Receivable

21,755

46,164

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

41,894

23,955

Capital Assets

97,868

151,201

Total Assets

2010

Revenues

Cash

Due from (to) Central Office

2011

(9,111,457) 17,234,678

(4,829,511) 15,941,324

Run for the Cure

6,399,501

5,481,964

Individual Donations

158,155

178,877

Direct Response

876,217

1,212,059

1,513,048

1,774,560

961,123

1,115,423

1,863,540

327,227

307,930

39,845

88,321

6,788

12,167,835

10,136,743

4,166,508

2,955,558

Operations

880,914

998,157

Central Office Allocations

380,636

513,719

5,428,058

4,467,434

30,188,774

25,209,322

Program Activities

1,237,495

1,168,485

Grants

2,056,221

3,901,491

Total

3,293,716

5,069,976

3,446,061

599,332

Donations:

Corporate Third Party Events Special Events Investment Income Other Total

Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Grants Payable - Current Deferred revenue Grants Payable Long Term subtotal

93,320

87,071

2,198,631

1,973,537

0

13,147

889,209

3,260,112

3,181,160

5,333,866

151,203

151,203

10,000

10,000

670,821

670,821

Expenses Cost of Raising Funds

Total

Fund Balances Invested in Capital Assets Externally Restricted Board Restricted (Internal) Unallocated funds opening

13,221,494

9,775,433

subtotal

14,053,518

10,607,458

17,234,678

15,941,324

Total Liabilities

*Yearly audits are conducted on Consolidated Statements as opposed to the Regional Statements disclosed here

+ for more details about the Foundation's Financials visit cbcf.org

Excess revenue over expense before allocations

Allocations

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses and allocations for the year

*Yearly audits are conducted on Consolidated Statements as opposed to the Regional Statements disclosed here

Report to the Community 2010/11

// 27

Volunteering for the cause

Stewart Roy pictured (left) Posing with Susan Olson, Run for the Cure Coordinator and (right) volunteering at Run for the Cure Wall of Hope

Rival fans’ spirit spreads from Grey Cup to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Stewart Roy loves CFL football.

He loves it so much that he’s crossed the country to catch every Grey Cup game over the last 12 years. Ten years ago, at the Grey Cup in Montreal, he met Anne* and her family, who had been going to Grey Cups since the early 90’s. It was an average meeting, by most Grey Cup measures.

“We were all just sort of standing there at some party, so I started chatting with Anne and some other people,” Stewart said.

“Then we took some photos with her and her family.”

And that could have been it. Their entire relationship could have consisted of Stewart the Eskimo fan meeting some rival fans, talking and taking in the Grey Cup. “But then later I was going for supper and I saw the same group of people, and Anne told me that we were all on a national news segment about fans who travelled from far away,” said Stewart.

From there, emails and addresses were exchanged and their friendship flourished

phoned the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and they told me how to get involved with the Run for the Cure.”

Stewart has become a part of the event, volunteering in different areas each year, and has embraced the highs and lows that come with spending time at such an emotional event.

“Signing the wall of hope and seeing all the signatures – that’s the most emotional part for me,” said Stewart. “It’s great to be there, helping people and offering a shoulder to cry on. The best part is when a survivor comes up to me and says thankyou. I’m so glad I got to know Anne, that she pulled through, and I ended up becoming part of such a great cause.”

into Christmas cards, letters, and of course, yearly meetings at the Grey Cup. Then one year, it was different.

“It was the ’04 Grey Cup in Ottawa.

I ran into Anne’s sister and her husband, and asked them where she was. They told me she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was devastating – she’s such a happy person, so outgoing, always smiling, and she loves football. All I could think was that she shouldn’t be sitting at home, she should be here with us.”

Thankfully, she made it through her treatment and recovered well enough to join her family and meet up with Stewart the next year in Vancouver.

As often is the case with breast cancer, Anne's encounter inspired those around her, and Stewart decided to help however he could. It started with donations, but Stewart “realized how much Anne and other women had been through, and figured I could do more to help out. So I signed up online and

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Learn more at cbcf.org or contact the Foundation at 1-866-302-2223. *name changed for story

Get started, visit cbcf.org Sponsored by

28 //

Report to the Community 2010/11

+ sign up to become a volunteer at cbcf.org

A message from Martin Kratz, Board Chair On behalf of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/ NWT Region and our volunteer board members, I extend my appreciation to each of you for making the last fiscal year one of great success.

Thank you for opening up your minds and your hearts, for seeing the possibility of what we can do together to create a future without breast cancer. Your perseverance, generosity and spirit have been our greatest strengths. You volunteered or participated in events, donated, spent countless hours investigating this disease or educating Canadians. You made a difference!

You helped to bring us to the point we are at today - where we

see improvements in long term survival rates, in diagnostics and early detection - thus more lives saved - and modern less invasive and more customized medical treatment. Each and every one of you has made a significant contribution to the success of our work - be proud!

As we move forward, we can look back with pride on where we came from, but we still have a lot of work to do. The Board of Directors and staff look forward to continuing to build towards our important goal of a future without breast cancer.

We still need your help. We need hands and forces – good will ambassadors who believe the work of our Foundation does makes a significant difference in creating a future without breast cancer. If we combine our skills, and more importantly our wills, then we can truly leave a lasting legacy.

Meet our Regional 2010/11 Board of Directors

Chair

Vice-Chair

Secretary

Treasurer

Past Chair

Martin Kratz

Gretchen Thompson

Shirley Forrest

David Shaw

Barbara McGregor

Head, Intellectual Property Group Bennett Jones LLP Calgary, AB

Community Leader Okotoks, AB

Partner Forrest and Associates Edmonton, AB

Entrepreneur Calgary, AB

Community Leader Calgary, AB

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Barbara Shumeley

Dale Linn

Gord Gilroy

Jeanette Mills

Susan Milburn

Retired Nurse / Community Leader Winnipeg, MB

Partner McDougall Gauley LLP Saskatoon, SK

Principal Vision Creative Edmonton, AB

Director of Operations Northwestel Inc. Yellowknife, NT

Vice President and Branch Manager Raymond James Ltd. Saskatoon, SK

Chief Executive Officer

Director

Director

Director

Lorna Pollock

Allison Pedersen

Robin Sparks

Chief Financial Officer Pantera Drilling Inc. Calgary, AB

Nurse Educator Winnipeg, MB

Principal Sparks & Associates Inc. Calgary, AB

Trish Bronsch

Creating a Future Without Breast Cancer