The Terry Fox Research Institute
institut de recherche Terry Fox
Monday, August 31, 2015
‘The Right Honourable Stephen Harper PC MP
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Dear Mr. Harper:
Thirty-five years ago on September ist, 1980 Terry Fox had to finish his Marathon of Hope just
outside Thunder Bay, Ontario. It has been our honour and humble duty over the intervening
years to carry on the run in his memory with countless Canadians and people from around the
world. In so doing we have collectively raised over $700 million for cancer research. We are
going to run and walk again for the 35th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope on Sunday,
September 20, in many communities across Canada.
When Terry started his run he had the audacious goal of raising $1 for every Canadian. This
being our 35% Anniversary and with 35 million Canadians, we are again setting this lofty
target.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon additional funds were raised that
allowed The Terry Fox Foundation (www.terryfox.org) to create The Terry Fox Research
Institute (www-tfr.ca), which has invested in leading-edge applied cancer research that is
ready for translation into the clinic. There have been a number of notable research successes
in building pan-Canadian research teams including one that has developed evidence and tools
to help detect lung cancer at an earlier, more curable stage.
‘There is much more to be done to achieve Terry's goal of a world without cancer. This letter is
to apprise you of, and to seek your support for, an initiative that borrows the model of
Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs) developed by the United States and implemented in
other countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom, CCCs will link high-
performing cancer research hospitals such as the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the
British Columbia Cancer Agency. By facilitating clinical and research data between these
clinics, we believe that the TFRI-led CCC program will one day deliver precision cancer-
medicine programs to patients. We already have the support of the above-mentioned research
hospitals to develop a Canadian program, and we have started work on a pilot, Our intent is to
offer this program across Canada, but to do so we will need the support and participation of
the next federal government.
‘The benefits of such a program can be summarized as:
Building capacity to test and produce evidence nationally of innovations, initially inthe area of
precision cancer medicine, in partnership with leading cancer hospitals;
Sharing the clinical and research information from these centres specifically to improve our
understanding and treatment outcomes of hard-to-treat, rare cancers;
67S WEST 10TH AVENUE | VANCOUVER | BC | CANADA | VSZ 113 | 7 604.675.0222 | # 604675.8118 | TERILCA+ Building critical mass and expertise across Canada to help improve the use of technology,
innovation and genomics to enhance the cancer outcomes of our patients and their early
access to novel and experimental treatments; and
1g Canada’s precision oncology leadership more globally competitive and thus
+ Mal
‘encouraging Canadian and international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to
increase their investments in Canada.
Attached is a summary outline of the program for your information. We will be contacting your
office to arrange an opportunity to discuss this program before the October 19 election.
In closing, we invite you to show your support of our vision for a Terry Fox designated
Comprehensive Cancer Centre program. We welcome you to pai
‘Terry Fox Runs happening on September 20% across Canada, We
‘icipate at any of the 750
be happy to work with
you in providing a speaking opportunity at the start of this year’s run.
Yours singerely,
VietoF Ling o¢fBC PhD
President and Scientific Director
Terry Fox Research Institute
\g@becra.ca
604-675-8222
Britt Andersen,
Executive Director
‘The Terry Fox Foundation
brittandersen@terryfox.org
604-239-8574