A donation of $1 million from the Powell family is bringing innovative new radiation therapy technology — the first in Canada — to Southlake Health.
More than 7,000 additional patients will receive radiation treatment closer to home with the addition of the Elekta Harmony Linear Accelerator (LINAC) to Southlake’s Regional Cancer Centre, according to a Southlake Health Foundation news release.
The most recent donation to the HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign by the Powells, who are longtime supporters of Southlake Health, was celebrated Dec. 2 with the unveiling of The Powell Group Radiation Treatment Suite within the Radiation Oncology Program.
“It was so important to us that we give back to the community that’s given so much to us,” said Matthew Powell. “This gift will help to ensure our employees, customers, families, and friends have access to exceptional cancer care, close to home at such a critical time. We’re so proud to have this space named in celebration of our organization and our family.”
In July 2022, when the Powells became the first corporate leadership donors to Southlake Health Foundation’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign, they never could have imagined how their culture of ‘creativity, initiative, and innovation’ would be represented in their philanthropy, the foundation said.
Southlake Health Foundation launched the $20-million HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign to keep pace with technological advances and grow the Regional Cancer Centre’s capacity to address the increased demand for cancer care.
"A generous outpouring of community support, like that from The Powell Group, has helped to raise over $18 million toward a $20-million goal, enabling significant milestones like bringing the Elekta Harmony LINAC to Southlake," the foundation said.
“With the generous support of donors like the Powells, Southlake Health is proudly building on a 100-year legacy of leading-edge care, close to home,” said Derek McNally, executive vice-president, clinical operations and chief operating officer of Southlake Health and regional vice-president of the Central Regional Cancer Program. “The Elekta Harmony LINAC has been game-changing for our communities. We’re bringing the latest advancements directly to patients — because they deserve nothing less.”
“The Powell Family’s long-standing commitment to the well-being of our shared communities is truly incredible. The addition of this first-in-Canada technology means that Southlake will be able to deliver lifesaving, tailor-made cancer treatment to patients right here, in their own community," Jennifer Ritter, president and CEO of Southlake Health Foundation, said. "We are so grateful to the Powells for their philanthropic investment. My thanks to them for their continued and inspiring support.”
