Pictured: Breast cancer patient and survivor, Heather Clark, during her treatment journey at the QEII.
Our BMO Ride for Cancer community has done it again.
After rallying around an ambitious goal to raise $325,000 needed support the Breast Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PEP), our riders, donors and supporters have officially crossed the finish line.
And the timing couldn’t be more exciting: BreastCancerPEP is now officially underway and enrolling its first patients.
“This is an incredible moment for our BMO Ride community,” says Scott MacIntyre, BMO Ride for Cancer volunteer co-chair. “Our riders and their donors saw an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for breast cancer patients and they rallied behind it. To know that the program we’ve been fundraising for is now opening its doors to patients makes this milestone even more powerful.”
A NEW KIND OF SUPPORT FOR THE BREAST CANCER JOURNEY
Led by the QEII’s Dr. Rob Rutledge and Dr. Gabriela Ilie, BreastCancerPEP is a groundbreaking, six-month, home-based supportive-care program designed specifically for patients living with and beyond breast cancer.
Through daily digital guidance and live monthly sessions, participants receive evidence-based support focused on physical activity and recovery, nutrition, sleep, stress management, emotional wellbeing and more — helping address the realities of cancer that continue long after a patient leaves the hospital.
For breast cancer survivor and QEII patient Heather Clark, that kind of support matters deeply. Both Heather and her daughter — a mother of three young children — have experienced breast cancer firsthand.
“Cancer affects so much more than your physical health. It can be incredibly isolating, and it impacts your whole family,” says Heather. “Having support that helps you understand what you’re going through, look after yourself and feel connected to others can make such a difference. I’m thrilled women across our province will now have access to something like BreastCancerPEP.”
That experience is echoed by Kerstin Boyce, a patient of Dr. Rutledge’s who participated in an earlier QEII patient empowerment program (PEP).
“Participating in PEP made this chapter of my life so much easier,” says Kerstin. “Facing a breast cancer diagnosis and navigating everything that comes with it is a scary time. During my own breast cancer journey, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and this program became part of my daily routine. As of this July, I’m officially cancer-free. We know how important this support is and are excited that even more patients will be now able to benefit.”
FROM AN IDEA TO PATIENTS’ HOMES
For Drs. Ilie and Rutledge, opening the clinical trial represents years of research, development, collaboration and patient input coming to life.
“Cancer care does not stop at the clinic door,” says Dr. Ilie. “BreastCancerPEP is designed to support women not just clinically, but physically, emotionally and socially.”
The randomized clinical trial will rigorously evaluate BreastCancerPEP and its impact on patients — building the high-quality evidence needed to potentially bring this Nova Scotia-developed model of care to many more women across Canada and beyond in the future.
“This is what makes this moment so exciting,” says Dr. Rutledge. “We know patients need support for everything that happens between appointments. Thanks to our riders and donors, we now have an opportunity to demonstrate what this kind of programming can do for women throughout treatment, recovery and survivorship.”
ANOTHER FINISH LINE CROSSED…AND MORE IMPACT AHEAD
BreastCancerPEP marks the second major fundraising goal completed by our 2026 BMO Ride community this year, following the successful campaign to fully fund minimal residual disease technology earlier this summer.
For BMO Ride volunteer co-chair Catherine Campbell, it’s another example of what has made this community so extraordinary throughout BMO Ride’s 12-year history.
“This community never stops showing us what’s possible when people come together around a shared purpose,” says Catherine. “Knowing those funds are helping launch a clinical trial that is already beginning to reach breast cancer patients makes it even more meaningful. And in our grand finale year, we’re not finished yet.”
Now, with another major milestone behind us, our BMO Ride community is ready to keep pedalling toward the next breakthrough. Stay tuned for more exciting details!
BMO Ride for Cancer is hosted by the QEII Foundation and the BreastCancerPEP clinical trial is proudly supported by our generous QEII Foundation donors and BMO Ride community.
Donate to a rider now, or click here to learn more about BreastCancerPEP and enrol in the clinical trial.
