New name, same goal for cancer foundation

Big changes have been made, but the goal remains the same for the newly renamed Northern Cancer Foundation: Find a cure for cancer.

“This is a special place with special people working here,” said NCF executive director Tannys Laughren. “It’s unfortunate we need a cancer foundation, but until we find a cure, we need a cancer centre and good people working towards that goal.”

After a recent annual general meeting, the changes were made as the Northern Cancer Research Foundation renamed itself as the Northern Cancer Foundation. The organization also welcomed a new chair in former Science North CEO Jim Marchbank, who succeeds Maureen Lacroix. New board members include Northern Ontario Business publisher Patricia Mills and Miners for Cancer co-founder Wayne Tonelli.

The name change was a necessity for the foundation to move forward in a less confusing manner, Laughren said.

“We clarified the roles with the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation,” Laughren said. “There was confusion out there for who was responsible for what. The name reflects we are responsible for that entire spectrum of cancer fundraising.”

Laughren praised the efforts of Lacroix, who stays on as past chair.

“Jim himself said he had big shoes to fill,” Laughren said. “Maureen was one of the founders and she had a vision for world-class cancer research in the north. She has been committed and her contribution has been second-to-none.”

Marchbank was “honoured” to be selected and looks forward to the challenge.
“We want to beat cancer and it’s a great opportunity to serve the community,” he said. “The people at the cancer centre are doing tremendous work and it is something everyone can be proud of. It’s an honour to be asked to join.”

Mills said she was delighted to join the cause. Besides being publisher of Northern Ontario Business and Sudbury Living magazine, she is also publisher of the Northern Ontario Medical Journal, making her a natural fit for the NCF.

“When they asked me to be a member, I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” she said, adding that her mother received cancer treatment in Sudbury, and Mills`own involvement is a way of giving back. “It just seemed like a natural fit. I have a responsibility to give back — I think everybody does.”

As for Wayne Tonelli and the Miners for Cancer fundraising group, since 1996, he and his team of volunteers have raised more than $1 million for local cancer research.

A retired general foreman from Vale’s Garson Mine, Tonelli said he is a proud advocate of the NCF.

The Northern Cancer Foundation (NCF) was formed in 1992 to support cancer research and patient care programs delivered at the Regional Cancer Program (RCP) of the Sudbury Regional Hospital. Every cent donated to the NCF stays in the community.

The foundation has raised more than $24 million.

Posted by Arron Pickard