Suzanne’s story

After her husband died of cancer in 2010, Suzanne Ince dedicated herself to giving back and decided to volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope Patient Transportation program.

For some patients, simply getting to treatment can be a difficult task, especially if they are dealing with physical or financial challenges or if the treatment centre is far from home. In a global pandemic, this anxiety is amplified. Thanks to your support, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) continues to provide Wheels of Hope — our signature transportation program for those needing a lift to get to their cancer treatment appointments. Volunteer drivers not only provide return trips for patients, but they also offer friendly support and kindness at a time when patients need it most.

“Many patients are unable to drive themselves and it is extremely stressful for them to take public transit to, and particularly from, their treatments. It goes without saying, that continually taking taxis could be an additional financial burden,” says Suzanne. “The Wheels of Hope program is imperative to maintain as it allows patients to be assured of reliable return transportation for their treatments, thus allowing them to concentrate on the positives of their journey with cancer,” she adds.

At the Canadian Cancer Society, we are committed to uniting and inspiring Canadians to take control of cancer. That’s why we are always funding high performance research that improves cancer outcomes and addresses the greatest opportunities for progress. It’s why we lead change in the most pressing areas of cancer policy including prevention, access, affordability and support. And it’s why we provide the highest quality cancer information for all Canadians, promote cancer prevention and provide targeted support to help people with cancer, their families and caregivers cope.

And our impact is far-reaching, geographically. Working as a national organization allows us to operate more efficiently and ensure donor dollars are spent effectively to benefit people here in Calgary and all Canadians, regardless of where they live.

Below are a few of our impact highlights from 2020/21 that were made possible thanks to the support of our donors and volunteers:

• Invested $1.8M to support 10 cancer research projects in Calgary
• Last year, 41 volunteer drivers helped patients in Calgary get to 416 treatment appointments
• Provided an additional 3,744 rides for more than 200 patients in Alberta through our partnership with Uber
• Supported 89 clinical trials in Alberta to get cutting edge research from the lab to helping people – clinical trials are research studies that test new ways to prevent, detect, treat or manage cancer
• Worked with governments to implement 51 policy wins, including new regulations to restrict e-cigarette advertising, increased taxes on tobacco products and the introduction of a tax for e-cigarettes

We set ourselves apart from other cancer charities or foundations by taking a comprehensive approach against cancer. We are also the only national charity that supports all Canadians living with all cancers across the country.

Here’s how we are doing more:

• We are the country’s largest national charitable funder of research into 100+ types of cancer
• We educate people on how to reduce their risk of cancer and how some types of cancer can be found early through screening tests
• Our support services network helps people with cancer and their loved ones manage life with cancer, find community and connection, and build wellness and resilience
• We are a trusted source of information about all types of cancer, with information offered by phone in 200 languages
• We advocate to governments and shape health policies to save lives and make living with cancer easier

Over the last 80 years, at the Canadian Cancer Society, we’ve played a leading role in taking action against cancer. Without our donors and volunteers, we would not be able to fund research, provide information and services, educate people about how to prevent cancer and advocate for positive changes.

About 2 in 5 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. We need your support now, more than ever, to help us save and improve lives.

There are just a few ways to support our organization, such as:

• Volunteering with us is a great opportunity for you to make a positive impact in our community, be part of a team, share your experience, learn new skills and develop lasting friendships
• Becoming a monthly donor as this form of giving helps reduce administration costs so that more of your donation goes directly to research, programs and services
• Registering for one of our signature events, Relay For Life or the CIBC Run for the Cure, that rally communities in support our work
• Giving a gift in honour or in memory of a loved one or purchasing a Gift for the Cure
• Leaving a legacy gift to make a lasting contribution, while reducing or eliminating taxes on your estate