Holiday Wishes from the Bladder Cancer Canada Team
2022 has been an amazing year for Bladder Cancer Canada as we saw changes to our board of directors, and welcomed new staff members to the team. Our small, but mighty team wanted to thank you, our success would not be possible without your support.
We are incredibly grateful for all that you do to help us achieve our mission – to support patients, increase awareness, and fund research.
Wishing you the happiest holidays and a safe and healthy new year
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From left to right: Michelle Colero - Executive Director, Theresa Blondin - Manager of Volunteers & Community Programs, Shasa Boshoff - National Development Manager, Cassandra Schooley - Communications Specialist, Emmalene Rae - Executive Assistant, Kevin Christopher-George - IT Generalist, Oliver Sutherns - Web Developer |
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This Holiday season we wanted to highlight members of our bladder cancer community, and how, with the help of generous donors like you, Bladder Cancer Canada has been able to support them beyond their diagnosis. |
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For Zina, a Bladder Cancer Canada volunteer who was diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer at the age of 40, she was able to gain valuable support from Bladder Cancer Canada's One2One Peer Support Program, as well as the Online Discussion Forum to help understand her options.
Read Zina's story HERE. The wonderful resources that helped Zina when she was diagnosed are supported by generous donors like you. |
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For Tony, our volunteer Vice-Chair, Bladder Cancer Canada helped him better understand his treatment options for metastatic bladder cancer and helped him understand how to advocate for the clinical trial that would save his life.
Your holiday gift can help fund one week of study for the Bladder Cancer Canada Research Program and will save lives, like Tony’s.
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Peter, Bladder Cancer Canada Peer Support Volunteer, is 4 years cancer-free. He chooses to give back to patients who are facing a bladder cancer diagnosis to provide support when they need it most.
Webinars like Peter's are supported by generous donors like you. |
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For Krysta, a dedicated Bladder Cancer Canada volunteer who was diagnosed at age 37, she gained incredible support and strength from speaking to other women in Bladder Cancer Canada's Women's Support Group.
You can read more about Krysta's story HERE. Bladder Cancer Canada's Support Groups are supported by generous donors like you. |
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Donate today to support the over 80,000 Canadians currently living with bladder cancer and the 12,500 Canadians who will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year. |
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Ways to Give
There are so many ways to give this holiday season:
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Donate by December 31 to receive a tax receipt*
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Thank You for Supporting Canada Walks for Bladder Cancer 2022
We would like to extend a sincere 'Thank you' to all that participated and supported this year's Canada Walks for Bladder Cancer. As of now, we have raised over $520,000!
We can't wait to walk with you in 2023! Be the first to know about next year's walk by signing up HERE. |
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The team at Bladder Cancer Canada is working hard to curate an informative year of educational programming for our community.
We are currently working on webinars that will cover topics such as diet/exercise, coping with a bladder cancer diagnosis, women’s health, and men’s health. We are also thrilled to announce that in-person patient meetings will return in 2023! More details to come in the new year.
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Our first webinar of the year is booked for February:
The value of Blue Light Cystoscopy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer detection.
Date and register link coming soon!
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Seeking Participants Living with Advanced (metastatic) Bladder Cancer |
Bladder Cancer Canada is working with a pharmaceutical company to gain insights from Canadians diagnosed with advanced (metastatic) bladder cancer and better understand their personal experiences from the time of diagnosis and beyond.
Our plan is to host a virtual meeting (2 ½ hour) with a diverse group of individuals from across Canada who feel comfortable sharing their experience with advanced (metastatic) bladder cancer.
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Thank Your To Our Wonderful Volunteers!
To all of the volunteers who supported Bladder cancer Canada in 2022, from the bottom of our hearts, we are incredibly thankful for your support.
Whether you volunteered for 2 hours at Canada Walks for Bladder Cancer, or spent countless hours on zoom or the phone providing support to bladder cancer patients, we would not be able to do it without you, and we are eternally grateful!
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Meet Audrey
Volunteer Role: Peer Support Volunteer & Facilitator for new virtual Saskatchewan Support Group
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Fun fact about Audrey:
I am married and blessed with 3 children and 8 grandchildren, who all live nearby. I love to go walking, do some acrylic artwork, and have coffee with people. In my retirement years now, I am doing more painting and learning how to play the violin and enjoying that.
Why are you passionate about volunteering for BCC:
Six years ago, I found out I had high grade non-invasive bladder cancer. Specialist removed one tumour and I had BCG treatments for about 2 1/2 years. When I found out I had bladder cancer I had mixed emotions of fear and peace. I had no support group. I had friends I could talk to, but nobody that was dealing with bladder cancer and treatments. That’s why I turned to volunteering as a peer support volunteer, to provide one on one phone support to others dealing with this, and more recently, a Support Group Leader in Saskatchewan. I want to reach out to others who are going through bladder cancer, who need support and encouragement.
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Are you looking to join a volunteer team?
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• Community Engagement Volunteer: Increase awareness and educate your community about bladder cancer (Specifically booking for an awareness table at Sunnybrook in Toronto, ON!).
• Participant Engagement Volunteer: Help re-engage & steward walk participants for 2023!
• Event Planner: Get involved with planning a walk or another unique event in your community!
• Fundraising Task Force : Join a group of volunteers who research opportunities and develop strategies to reach our fundraising initiatives
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For this month's Monthly Fundraising spotlight, we would like to highlight every one of you who supported Bladder Cancer Canada this Giving Tuesday.
We set a goal of $5,000 to help fund the translation of Patient Guidebooks and asked you to help us decorate our garland with Bladder Cancer Canada ornaments thanks to your donations. We were blown away by your support, and we want to thank you for helping us raise over $11,000!
Thanks to your support, we will be able to make these vital tools accessible to more Canadians facing a bladder cancer diagnosis.
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Please join us on social media where we’ll be sharing updates and photos from our bladder cancer community. These social media sites are a great resource for patients, survivors, and caregivers. |
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You are receiving this email because you have registered on our website or expressed an interest in receiving more information about bladder cancer or Bladder Cancer Canada.
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