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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-30, Page 48et us n Terry Fox, born July 28, 1958, died June 28, 1', ; 1. A most remarkable young 22 - year -old Canadian hero who had a dream—the ultimate control of cancer. Regret- tably his life was not spared to see his dream come true. However, as a result of the unbelievable effort put forth through the "Marathon of Hope", he was able to raise almost $23.5 million for cancer research. As of September 30, 1981, a total amount of $20,424,284 had been turned over to the National Cancer Institute of Canada and an additional amount of $3,043,864 was on hand awaiting transfer to the Institute subsequent to September 30, 1981. With the extra resources available to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, the research wing of the Canadian Cancer Society, five new research programs have been developed to t for stimulate progress against cancer and thus fulfill Terry's legacy. They mark but the beginning, for the Society and the Institute are determined that other promising research programs must follow. A major objective has been to ensure that funds made available through the Terry Fox "Marathon of Hope", are used to add new; dimensions to the cancer research programs con- ducted m Canada. This is well illustrated in the Terry Fox. Special Initiatives Program which is designed to make it possible for outstanding investigators to realize their full potential in cancer research. An attempt has also been made to fulfill the unmet needs within Canadian Faculties of Medicine by making awards from a Terry Fox Special Cancer Terry Fox Research Fund. The third program Is the Terry Fox Training Centre Establishment Grants. The aim of this program is to encourage the organization of co-ordinated programs such as those involving both clinical and fundamental research or those involving interface research. 'The remaining two awards announced recently- by the National Cancer Institute of Canada are—The Terry Fox Cancer Research. Scientist Award (to enable a limited number of investigators to devote more time to their cancer research activities) and The Terry Fox Cancer Research Clerkship Program (to stimulate the interest of medical students). In both cases, the objective is to attract talented personnel since our most precious resources are our human resources. Reputations rise and fall. Great men of one age, become little men of the next, but the stature of Terry Fox will never shrink. Never before has one person done so much for all Canadians. Times change and in- stitutions topple, but -the living force of such a tremendous personality endures, and will endure forever. HOW C.C.S. FUNDS WERE SPENT IN 1981 The amazing response of Canadians to the Terry Fox "Marathon of Hope" caused a major increase in the in- come of the Canadian Cancer Society during 1981. Inclusion of these funds in the general description of the waggle ream financial affairs of the society would prevent comparison with reports presented in previous years. Consequently all the following financial in- formation refers to on-going functions of the Canadian Cancer Society. It does not include receipts and ex- penditures in respect of the "Marathon of Hope" program. Income from ail sources totalled $37,212,086 in 1981. A detailed accounting will be found in the audited' statement which is available upon request to any Unit of the Society. Expenditures totalled $35,394,191. These funds were used as follows: research - $16,240,833; fellowships and professional education - $487,474; provincial cancer foundations and provincial programs -$1,173,616; property acquisitions - patient lodges -$994,650, office buildings -$998,987; education -$6,011,796; patient services -5,320,021; cost of providing services - $1,647,205; and cost of fund raising -$2,519,609. Resources at the beginning of the year were $14,583,664. Net increase in resources for the year were $1,17.5,664for a total of $15,759,328. Resources at the end of the year include $7,633,906 designated to meet specific commitments for research hostel facilities and ,other special projects and $345,000 for professional education. The remaining resources of $7,780,422 will be used to carry out the programs of the society in the six months prior to the next campaign in April. Questions ... • from page 15 afterwards so it is not unusual for trials to take five to ten years to complete. One basic premise underlying all such clinical trials programs is that no patient shall receive less care than is presently considered to be optimal and the protocols are based on a consensus among more than 100 clinical oncologists from all across Canada. They repre- sent a striking demonstration of the benefits to be achieved from a cooperative approach to a common problem. 10. What type of support is available for cancer research? Support is available for the conduct of research pro- grams and for the training of individuals such as research workers, clinicians seeking specialized training or others who can uniquely con- tribute to meeting the needs of the cancer patient. Research awards may vary from perhaps $2,000 to enable an investigator to hire a summer student to carry out a limited number of experiments to over half a million dollars a year to ma- jor cancer research centres such as the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver, the • Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto or the Insitut du Cancer de Montreal. These major pro- grams cover such varied fields as epidemiology, pathological diagnosis of tumours, radiobiology, im- munology, virology, chemotherapy and en- vironmental carcinogenesis. Young investigators who decide to seek training to carry out research in the field of cancer may be sup- ported as graduate students (either paid out of a research grant or as the recipient of a prestige Studentship), as a postdoctoral fellow ( either paid out of a grant or as the recipient of a prestige Fellowship), as a career in- vestigator at the assistant, associate or full professor level or as a Clinical Trials Scholar. The Canadian Cancer Society and some of its provincial divisions also make support available to enable clinicians to obtain further specialized training to increase their ability to care for the cancer patient. In addition, there is also growing emphasis being placed by the Canadian Cancer Society and the Na- tional Cancer Institute of Canada on the need to develop special skills to care for patients with advanced cancer.