A team celebrates at our 2021 BMO Ride for Cancer event. Photo credit: Uncharted Creative Media.
(HALIFAX, N.S. – Tuesday, March 8, 2022) On March 3, public registration launched for the eighth annual BMO Ride for Cancer, formerly Ride for Cancer powered by BMO Bank of Montreal. Hosted by the QEII Foundation, 2022 marks a new era for Atlantic Canada’s largest cycling fundraising event which has raised more than $5.7 million net in support of local cancer care at the QEII Health Science Centre.
BMO is announcing a five-year commitment as the new title sponsor, which reflects its vision to lead and catalyze transformational change in cancer care for all Canadians. The proceeds from this year’s BMO Ride for Cancer are also elevating care to unprecedented heights, with this year’s BMO Ride community playing a critical role in funding first-in-the-world cancer-fighting technology that will be developed here in Halifax, at the QEII.
With event registration opening to the general public just five days ago, BMO Ride for Cancer is already 85 per cent sold out with limited rider spots remaining. For those lucky riders who do secure a spot, they’ll be among 1,300 participants cycling for a critical cause on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Quick facts
- Taking place on October 1, 2022, BMO Ride for Cancer is the largest cycling fundraising event in Atlantic Canada. Participants – inclusive of veteran cyclists, recreational and rookie riders – ride their choice of eight distance options (from 25km up to 160km) via the Rum Runners Trail or by road.
- Last year, event registration reached capacity within just three weeks of going live. It’s a feat that led to the biggest BMO Ride for Cancer yet, raising a record $1.8 million net – fully funding state-of-the-art genetic sequencing technology to help identify the most effective cancer treatments for QEII patients.
- Since 2015, BMO Ride for Cancer has raised over $5.7 million net (and counting!) to transform cancer care, here at home, for Atlantic Canadians.
- BMO Ride for Cancer is laser-focused on continuing to build a centre of excellence in cancer care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, equipping care teams with the most advanced equipment and technology available.
- In 2022, BMO Ride for Cancer will play a monumental role in introducing a first-in-the-world cancer-fighting technology, called personalized radiotherapy, at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
- This technology will target radiation beams like never before; completely personalized based on the shape and movement of a patient’s tumour and anatomy mere minutes before their treatment begins.
- Invented right here at home, this technology aims to reduce the number of radiation treatment sessions from 25 to five for certain cancers, improve cancer outcomes, lessen treatment side effects, and ensure more patients spend less time in-hospital and more time at home with their families.
- This project will be entirely donor-funded through BMO Ride for Cancer and the QEII Foundation – and is part of the QEII Foundation’s $100-million We Are campaign.
- To learn more about past areas of impact funded by our BMO Ride for Cancer community – including Atlantic Canada’s first surgical robotics technology for robotic cancer surgeries and colposcope equipment to diagnose cervical cancer earlier – visit yourrideforcancer.ca/impact.
Quotes
“BMO’s five-year commitment as title sponsor speaks to our belief that BMO Ride for Cancer has the potential to grow even more, and contribute to world-leading treatments that are being developed right here in Nova Scotia. We’re excited about our ability to invest more in BMO Ride and have a bigger impact on cancer care in Atlantic Canada, in partnership with the QEII Foundation.”
– Justin Scully, Regional President Personal Banking Atlantic, BMO
“In 2022, BMO Ride for Cancer is all in with yet another record-breaking event on the horizon. This year’s goals are bigger and bolder than ever as we rally together to help fund a world’s first technology that has the potential to revolutionize radiotherapy treatment, here at home and around the globe. None of this would be possible without the visionary support of our new title sponsor, BMO.”
– Margaret Chapman, Volunteer Chair of BMO Ride for Cancer, and COO and Partner at Narrative Research.
“In 2021, shortly after I received a life-long cancer diagnosis, I registered for BMO Ride for Cancer. And I plan to ride every year that I can as this is just the beginning of me being an advocate and doing anything I can. I want to make treatment better and limit suffering, having gone through it and having watched family members suffer from cancer. Treatment has come a long way but it is still hard on the body. I really like that BMO Ride has a very tangible goal and makes a big impact.”
– Gavin Mills, QEII cancer patient and BMO Ride for Cancer participant
For media interviews, photos and b-roll, please contact:
Nicole Topple, QEII Foundation
902 476 9798 | nicole.topple@qe2foundation.ca
