(HALIFAX, N.S. – Wednesday, April 10, 2024) BMO Ride for Cancer recently earned a remarkable achievement, receiving national recognition as the #5 peer-to-peer cycling event in Canada. This is the first and only event in Atlantic Canada to make this list, which is part of the esteemed 2023 Canadian Top 30 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Programs List; a prestigious ranking published by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum, a leading authority in the philanthropic sector.
Hosted by the QEII Foundation, BMO Ride for Cancer has funded over $10.3 million worth of cancer-fighting equipment, technology and spaces at the QEII Health Sciences Centre since 2015.
Securing its spot as Canada’s top five peer-to-peer cycling event marks an epic milestone for BMO Ride for Cancer as it heads into its 10th anniversary year and the biggest BMO Ride our region has ever seen.
QUOTES
“I am filled with overwhelming pride and gratitude as our event clinches the remarkable #5 spot among cycling events on the 2023 Canadian Top 30 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Programs List. This achievement is a testament to the incredible spirit and commitment of every individual who has contributed their time, effort, and passion to moving the needle in local cancer care for all Atlantic Canadians. Together, we are saving lives, and to be recognized amongst our esteemed counterparts across the country is an absolute honour.”
– Dianna MacDonald, Event Director, BMO Ride for Cancer
“As a Co-Chair, and Team Captain in this event, I am incredibly proud that our event ranked as the #5 cycling event in the country. What truly resonates with me is the profound impact we’ve made along the way. It’s not just about the ranking; it’s about the lives touched, the hope ignited, and the progress made in transforming local cancer care at the QEII.”
– Catherine Campbell, Co-Chair, BMO Ride for Cancer
“I’ve been part of BMO Ride for Cancer since its inception, and witnessing its growth fills me with immense pride. Achieving the #5 ranking in the country is a testament to the incredible journey we’ve undertaken together. From humble beginnings to this remarkable milestone, it’s a testament to the unwavering dedication of our BMO Ride community. I am deeply honoured to have played a role in this journey, and I’m excited to continue building a QEII centre of excellence in cancer care alongside this unstoppable community.”
– Scott MacIntyre, Co-Chair, BMO Ride for Cancer
“This national award is no small feat, especially given the size and caliber of the other events recognized in this ranking. I am continuously impressed with the dedication, energy and impact attached to BMO Ride for Cancer and all that has been achieved by our BMO Ride community. I am so proud of what this ride has become and the life-saving care and advances it enables for Atlantic Canadian patients and their families.”
– Simon Roberts, Founder, BMO Ride for Cancer
QUICK FACTS
- Founded in 2015, BMO Ride for Cancer is Canada’s only trail and road cycling event and includes eight distance options along Nova Scotia’s South Shore.
- Registration is now open for the 10th anniversary event, which will be hosted in Halifax on Saturday, September 28. 2024.
- BMO Ride for Cancer is Atlantic Canada’s largest cycling fundraising event. Nationally, it also secured its position as #19 overall among peer-to-peer fundraising programs (2023 Canadian Top 30 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Programs List).
- Peer-to-peer fundraising is a dynamic practice where supporters of nonprofit organizations engage in activities such as walks, bike rides, or virtual challenges and leverage their networks to solicit donations.
- Since 2015, our BMO Ride for Cancer community has raised over $10.3 million net for local cancer care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre – impacting nearly every patient who receives cancer treatment and care at the QEII. Funding highlights include:
- Supporting the world’s first Ethos radiotherapy system with HyperSight imaging, which recently scanned and treated its first cancer patients in January 2024.
- Helping bring Atlantic Canada’s first surgical robotics technology, the da Vinci X robot, to the QEII for prostate, kidney, gynecological and ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancer surgeries. To date, over 1,200 da Vinci X robot-assisted surgeries have been performed at the QEII.
- Fully funding genetic sequencing technology which analyzes tumour samples to help inform how a patient’s cancer might progress and the most effective treatment options.
- Supporting technology and equipment within the QEII’s Cancer Therapy Preparation Lab, where critical treatments, like chemotherapy and systemic therapy, are prepared.
- Fully funding Atlantic Canada’s first CAR-T therapy lab; a space dedicated to delivering this lifesaving immunotherapy which is a final lifeline and potential cure for certain blood cancer patients who’ve tried all other treatment options. Construction of this state-of-the-art lab will soon begin.
- Funds raised from this year’s BMO Ride for Cancer will introduce liquid biopsy technology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
- With a simple blood test that can happen anywhere in the province, QEII experts will use this revolutionary technology to uncover whether patients are cancer-free after surgery, if their cancer has returned, and if so, how best to treat it.
- With the determination and support of our BMO Ride participants who commit to fundraising $1,000 each, our 2024 event will unlock a new era of cancer screening, monitoring and treatment in Nova Scotia.
- This project will mark one of the first times in Canada that liquid biopsies are clinically deployed and integrated into patients’ care journeys.
- To learn more about BMO Ride for Cancer, register or support a BMO Ride participant in your life, visit YourRideforCancer.ca.
- To learn more about the annual Top 30 peer-to-peer study conducted by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum, visit peertopeerforum.com.
MEDIA INQUIRES
Nicole Topple, QEII Foundation
nicole.topple@qe2foundation.ca | 902 476 9798
