Today, the Prince George Community Foundation (PGCF) and Rio Tinto announced a joint $ 155,000 donation to BC Cancer – Prince George in honour of the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary. This is the largest donation the PG Community Foundation has made to date.
The Foundation and Rio Tinto are pleased to provide this donation to the BC Cancer – Prince George. Dr. Robert Olson, radiation oncologist at BC Cancer and his team will utilize these funds to help support research and clinical trials in precision radiation therapy. Precision radiation has significant potential to minimize side effects and improve patient outcomes. This program will help to establish BC Cancer – Prince George as a world leader in radiation therapy.
“Rio Tinto is proud to be part of a project that will make a difference for the health and well-being of our employees, contractors, Indigenous communities and residents across the northwest.” Affonso Bizon, general manager, Rio Tinto BC Works. “The precision radiation program will support efforts to increase research capacity and academic output in the north and establish the Prince George cancer clinic as a hub of innovation in cancer treatment and care. Our contribution to this medical research and precision radiation therapy will allow our community residents to be treated closer to home using the latest technology.”
Residents of Northern BC deserve the best care that cancer treatment can offer. This program will provide another opportunity for BC Cancer to play an active role in improving access to cancer care for Northern residents. The creation of a robust research program will test the ability of precision research therapy to extend survival and increase cure rates in patients with metastatic cancer.
“The Prince George Community Foundation is thrilled to provide our largest grant to date during our 25th Anniversary year in partnership with Rio Tinto for this life-changing research program at BC Cancer- Prince George,” says Alain LeFebvre, President, Prince George Community Foundation. “We know that this research will benefit not only Prince George residents but patients from across Northern BC.”
“Thanks to the Prince George Community Foundation’s and Rio Tinto’s extraordinary donation towards precision radiation, patients undergoing cancer care in the north will have access to cutting-edge new treatments close to home,” says Sarah Roth, President and CEO, BC Cancer Foundation. “More than half of British Columbians diagnosed with cancer will receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment,” says Dr. Robert Olson, radiation oncologist at BC Cancer – Prince George. “This generous gift helps ensure we can deliver the best care to people facing cancer in our community and lead to better outcomes for patients.”
Over the past 25 years, the Foundation has given back to the community by supporting numerous charities. This is another way in which the PG Community Foundation is continuing to support Prince George and northern BC residents.
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