Lighting a torch for cancer care at Southlake

The new Cancer Care Centre at Southlake Regional Health Centre has galvanized the community in a way that no other campaign has. The 105,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art cancer clinic, slated for completion by the Fall of 2009, will offer residents of South Simcoe and northern York Region an expanded 23-bed chemotherapy unit, 3 outpatient clinics, in-patient services, designated space for clinical drug trials, and for the first time in this area, radiation treatment.
The cancer care program, supported by the world-class expertise of Princess Margaret Hospital, will ensure that residents have access to complete diag-nostic services, advanced care and treatment within their own community – without the need for repeated and exhausting trips to Toronto. By 2012, the program will accommodate an estimated 100,000 patient visits per year.
The cost of the Regional Cancer Program is approximately $110 million – and the hospital’s Foundation is in the midst of a massive fundraising campaign, to raise $60 million, or almost 55% of the total.
Southlake… Count on Me has been focusing on corporate and generous personal gifts, and to date, has raised over $38.2 million – or nearly two-thirds of the goal.
On April 27, Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation launched the final phase of the Count on Me campaign – asking residents within all of the hospital’s catchment areas, in Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, Whitchurch-Stouffville, King Twp. and Bradford West Gwillimbury, to help make the Regional Cancer Care Centre a reality, and show their support.
The launch took place at the annual Bob Hartwell Runners’ Challenge half-marathon and 5K Run, in Aurora. Bob Hartwell, one of the original founders of the York Region Community Safety Village for children, passed away at the age of 54 while competing in the Toronto Marathon. The Runners’ Challenge raises funds for the Community Safety Village, and this year, for Southlake Regional’s Count on me campaign.
A “torch relay” carried a symbolic flame, from hand to hand of supporters that included the Aurora Rotary Club, cancer survivor Kathy Proudfoot and finally, Barb Hartwell, Bob’s widow, who passed the torch to local mayors. Aurora’s Phyllis Morris, Margaret Black of King Twp., Tony Van Bynen of Newmarket, Doug White of Bradford West Gwillimbury, and councillor Ken Ferdinands from Whitchurch-Stouffville took the torch from her hands, to carry back to their own communities.
The goal, for Southlake, is to achieve “the very best cancer care available anywhere in Canada. Today, we’re here to share that dream with the rest of our community,” said Neila Poscente, Southlake Foundation. “This campaign is truly a labour of love for everyone involved. The Regional Cancer Care Centre is the greatest gift we can give to our community.”
“We know we can count on you.”
For more information on the Southlake… Count on me campaign, see www.southlakeregional.org or call 905-836-7333.

Back to Main