NEWS RELEASE
SOUTHLAKE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION
*************************
On Nov. 30, Southlake Regional Health Centre hosted over 20 members of the Toronto Chinese Media Professionals Association (TCMPA), representing Chinese media outlets from across the GTA, to showcase the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre and generate awareness of Southlake’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign.
Members met with cancer centre clinicians, Southlake leadership, Southlake Foundation staff, and leadership volunteers, including philanthropy cabinet member and co-founder/chief executive officer of Skinopathy Keith Loo.
“I was privileged to welcome members of Canada’s Chinese media to a hospital that means so much to my community and me,” said Loo. “Southlake is a centre of excellence and a pillar in our community. As a leadership volunteer with Southlake Foundation, it brings me great pride to see and hear about the advancements made possible through the generous contributions of Southlake supporters. Every member of our community must understand how Southlake and the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre serve our region and the part we can all play in safeguarding outstanding cancer care for ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbours.”
Southlake serves over 1.5 million people in York Region and south Simcoe, with its Stronach Regional Cancer Centre delivering advanced cancer care to an even greater population as the Regional Cancer Program for the area. Consistently ranked in the top three of Ontario’s 14 cancer centres, Southlake was recently named the first partner of the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network.
Media representatives toured the cancer centre, including Southlake’s newly acquired PET-CT scanner — the first to York Region — and its radiation and systemic therapy treatment areas. They spoke directly with Southlake’s clinical experts about how the HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign will help Southlake grow its capacity to minimize patient wait times and keep up with technological advances in the fight against cancer.
“As the president of the Toronto Chinese Media Professionals Association, I am honoured to support Southlake’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign,” says Tracy Liu, president of TCMPA. “This media tour is a crucial step in raising awareness about the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre’s impactful work within the Chinese community. Together, through strategic collaboration and media engagement, we can amplify the message of hope and progress in the fight against cancer to inspire our community to join this vital initiative.”
Community philanthropy has significantly impacted Southlake’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign, raising over $15 million toward its $20-million goal.
“The populations we serve are incredibly diverse, so having an opportunity to welcome groups like the Toronto Chinese Media Professionals Association to experience first-hand what we can accomplish when working together with our community was an honour,” shared Arden Krystal, president and CEO of Southlake Regional Health Centre. “With the help of our donors, our cancer campaign will ensure people do not have to travel far from home for cancer care when they are already feeling exhausted, anxious, and ill.”
Gifts from donors in the community have empowered Southlake to achieve early and impactful milestones at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, including:
- Bringing two replacement linear accelerators (LINACs) for radiation therapy online to replace aging equipment. Replacing a third LINAC at the end of its life cycle and adding a fifth to the fleet will enable Southlake to administer more than 7,000 additional treatments for patients annually.
- Funding 16 of the planned 19 new chemotherapy chairs as part of Southlake’s systemic therapy program expansion to accommodate 7,000 additional treatment appointments each year.
- Acquiring the first-ever PET-CT scanner for the region so that Southlake patients will no longer need to travel considerable distances to other hospitals or private clinics to access this advanced diagnostic precision. The PET-CT scanner will allow clinical teams to conduct 1,686 scans in the first year alone.
As Southlake Foundation enters the home stretch of the HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign, they hope to continue to build awareness through events like these that aim to drive home the importance of access to advanced cancer care for a growing and aging community.
Jennifer Ritter, president and CEO of Southlake Foundation, echoes the sentiment.
“We hope more people will be inspired to donate to ensure everyone who needs it can get leading-edge care, close to home.”
For more information on Southlake’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign, visit southlake.ca/HERE.
*************************
