Adam Prudhomme
Editor
April is synonymous with flowers, perhaps none more symbolic than the daffodil.
For over 65 years the yellow bloom has been the emblem for the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) annual April fundraiser, bringing in crucial dollars to go towards the most promising research across all types of cancer.
Always promoting a message of hope, this year’s campaign aims to take transform outcomes of cancers with the six statistically lowest survival rates: pancreatic, esophageal, brain, lung, liver, and stomach. A diagnosis of one of those types of cancers currently comes with a 30 per cent five-year survival rate, compared to 64 per cent for all other cancers combined. In 2022 alone, an estimated 35,000 Canadians lost their lives to those six cancers.
“The focus this year, and the theme, is Help Hope Bloom, which is why the daffodil is the symbol,” said Ashley Thorpe, CCS Daffodil Campaign manager. “It’s the first flower that blooms in the spring and it gives people that feeling of hope and resilience and kind of a fresh start. That’s kind of the basis of the Daffodil Campaign.”
This year’s funding of world-leading research includes the recently announced $55-million CCS Breakthrough Team Grants: Transforming Low-Survival Cancers, the biggest collective effort in Canada focused on these types of cancers.
“We believe that research is the key to accelerate change and unearth solutions that will save lives,” says Andrea Seale, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cancer Society in a media release. “The Daffodil Campaign is proud to fund some of the brightest minds in cancer research with programs such as the CCS Breakthrough Team Grants. These low-survival rates are due to many factors, including a lack of identifiable risk factors and effective treatment options. This new investment has real potential to change the future of cancer forever.”
That $55 million will be doled out over the next five years.
“It’s focusing on six of the lowest survival rate cancers, which is brain, lung, esophageal, stomach and pancreatic cancer and really looking at a large number of researchers that are going to look into opportunities to make headway with these six cancers in particular,” said Thorpe.
Sadly, an estimated two in five Canadians will be diagnoses with cancer in their lifetime.
“You’d be hard pressed to find somebody who hasn’t been touched by cancer in their circle of friends,” said Thorpe. “The Daffodil Campaign, all the money raised goes towards the ground breaking research. There’s also a big support system, the Canadian Cancer Society and there’s also a large advocacy program that the money goes towards as well. Those three pillars help bring that bright future for cancer diagnosis and cancer patients that go through that.”
The Daffodil Campaign will continue throughout the month of April. New this year is a Facebook challenge that calls on people to walk or run 80 km combined throughout the month of April while collecting pledges from friends and family.
“CCS relies on the generosity of donors to fund such cutting-edge research innovation to change lives faster,” adds Seale. “We call upon all people in Canada to support the annual Daffodil Campaign and its goal to Help Hope Bloom for those affected by cancer. In addition to one-time donations, those wanting to get involved can become monthly donors, join the CCS 80 km Facebook Challenge or organize their own fundraiser.”
For more information or to donate, visit cancer.ca/daffodil. All donations made between April 23 to April 30 will be matched.