$100,000 donated towards prostate cancer research in Kelowna, B.C.
Global News
The donation will support the internationally recognized work done for a highly effective form of treatment, Brachytherapy, which treats cancer from the inside out.
Each year across the Okanagan, motorcyclists strap on their helmets and ride for a cause, which is raising money for prostate cancer research.
On Wednesday, the group was able to donate the funds to the BC Cancer Foundation in Kelowna, B.C., handing over a $100,000 cheque.
“I can’t tell you how much I’m overwhelmed and honoured to be able to do this for the thousands of men and basically families that are touched by this disease every year,” said Bob Charron, chair of the Okanagan branch of Ride for Dad.
The Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation raised the money through the Ride for Dad events. The funding will support Dr. Juanita Crook’s internationally-recognized work for a highly effective form of treatment.
“Brachytherapy treats from the inside out. We’re putting the radiation directly into the cancer, into where it’s needed and that gives a much higher dose very conformally. We don’t have to travel through all the rest of the body in order to get to where we want to give the dose,” said Crook.
The funding for the research and testing done by Dr. Crook and her team isn’t fully covered by the government, so this six-figure donation goes a long way.
“It allows you to be more creative, do research, investigate different means, and improve treatment. Because you can’t start something new, it’s not automatically a standard of care. First, you have to prove that it works and prove how it’s better, and then the government says, ‘Oh OK, fine, maybe we should support that,'” said Crook.
Giving back is so important to Charron as he was treated by Dr. Crook when he had prostate cancer a few years ago.