Annual Report

President's Report
Reflection of 2011

Your Foundation’s Board is most gratified with the support in 2011 from an expanding funding base, the positive reception of important awareness programs, the accolades of the medical community from our research awards and the very important role of support group members across BC. These priorities are a key element of the Foundation’s strategic plan going into 2012.

With more that 3,000 BC men diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011, living with prostate cancer has become a reality for many thousands of men and their families. With early detection and appropriate treatment a longer better life is now more likely. The periodic controversy over the use of PSA testing has not been very useful to those helped from having such information. PSA history assists men and their doctors to determine if they have prostate cancer, assess its nature and plan their treatment journey.

Working with PCCN, the Foundation and the BC Prostate Cancer Support Group Council continues to strengthen the Support Group network throughout BC for men living with prostate cancer. Support Groups are a vital source of information and engagement for new and returning members and their spouses. Yet beyond just those attending Support groups, more families also look to their doctors, other contacts and the internet for helpful guidance. Thus, the Foundation’s media awareness programs, speaker’s bureau, websites and the “Reef Knot” information kits provided through BC urologists are growing in importance. Much more remains to be done which makes expanding Foundation and national fundraising events and programs so vitally important.

However, prostate cancer is not just a BC story – it is a Canadian and indeed a world wide issue. As the most common cancer affecting men, prostate cancer is reaching the forefront of medical and public awareness, including donors, evident by the success of “Movember”. Important treatment breakthroughs that will improve the lives of millions of men are near at hand.

Foundation directors have long believed in combining its resources and vision with other like minded prostate cancer organizations across Canada into one combined Canada wide prostate cancer brand. Thus in 2011 the Foundation’s board completed an Affiliation Agreement with Prostate Cancer Canada to work together on regional and national fundraising, awareness and support programs. Prostate Cancer Canada is now leading the way to bring prostate cancer to the top of mind with citizens across our country.

Still, an independent BC based Foundation operating within the national brand is able to engage committed individuals to develop and deliver regionally specific programs that compliment those national broader based programs. In the year ahead, while your Foundation aligns its underlying strategies to focus on its BC programs, it will do this within the greater goal of collaborating with Prostate Cancer Canada leading the way. In this respect we have encouraged BC support groups to also ‘affiliate’ with PCCN and BC Support Group Council. As examples, the Foundation actively promoted Movember, the largest prostate cancer fundraising yet, and organizes in mainland BC the annual national Father’s Day Walk Run.

Your Foundation continues to seek and add leadership to its Board of directors with Dr. Michael Cox of the VGH/Prostate Research Centre and John Kenyon of KPMG joining the Board in the last year.

I thank all of our directors, especially our Executive Director, Leah LaRiviere, our members and supporters for assuring our strategic plan objectives are priorities and our year has been one of growth and service. While a very busy year, I have enjoyed being your Chair with the support of an active board and as I retire as Chair handing the gavel to incoming Chair, Bryan McPherson.

Ted Butterfield – Past Chair