Media Advisory and Statement Regarding the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network

VANCOUVER (April 5th, 2019): Working in collaboration with its regional and national partners, the Terry Fox Research Institute will host a media event on Friday, April 12^th, in St. John’s, N.L. to provide further details on the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network and to outline its plan to transform cancer research and care across Canada.

The media event follows the announcement last month by the Federal Government of Canada to invest $150M over the next five years to support the creation of the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. The media event is being held on the same date and at the same place where Terry Fox began his inspirational Marathon of Hope 39 years ago.

“When Terry dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic and set out on his Marathon of Hope 39 years ago, his goal was to raise awareness and money for cancer research so that one day we would be able to find cures for all cancers,” said Darrell Fox, on behalf of the Fox family. “The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network is a huge step in that direction and is something I know Terry would be very proud of.”

Many years in the making, the network will unite top-tier cancer research institutes and clinics across Canada to share data, harness technology and collaborate to make precision medicine a reality. The network members will deploy new technologies such as artificial intelligence and the use of big data to help fulfil the promise of precision medicine: to provide patients with the right treatment at the right time based on the biological and genetic make up of their individual cancers.  

“To make precision medicine a reality, all Canadian cancer research and treatment institutions must come together to share clinical and genomic data from patients so that we can analyze it using new technologies to connect every individual to the appropriate treatment for their particular cancer,” said Dr. Victor Ling, TFRI president and scientific director. “This provides the best hope to find cures for all cancers, and we are, of course, energized by the opportunity to help make it a reality.”