Like many, I lost my parents to cancer. My dad was in his 70s when he passed from cancer, along with a number of other ailments, but my mom passed when she was just 60 from lung cancer. Seeing my momwho was healthy fall so quickly really hit hard. These circumstances moved me to do more to give back and support the cancer cause. As you know, cancer doesn’t stereotype based on status, nationality, colour, or gender - it affects us all.

Unfortunately, the pandemic slowed down many things, and that resulted in late cancer diagnosis for a lot of people across the world. There was a shortage of wigs for cancer patients and others suffering from hair loss. Through my mom, I’ve seen how challenging things are when someone goes through chemo and radiation and loses their hair. I knew giving my hair for a wig would be worthwhile, and I’m planning to donate it to Locks of Love. As many of you are aware (and teased at onset!) I started growing my hair during the pandemic. 

This started as a personal journey. But during a conversation with Lauren, I shared what I was planning to do and we’re hoping to turn this into an awesome fundraiser! It’s been over three years since I started growing out my hair, and I’ve finally received confirmation from the Locks of Love partners that my hair can now be used.

Also want to give a shoutout to Memorial Sloan Kettering who continue to do great work in support of the next generation of cancer patients. As many of you are aware, our old colleague Norm Gardell in Compliance had aggressive Stage 4 cancer and had a very low probability of survival, and through MSK's work, he was able to see his children go off to college. That is why I am so proud that CIBC supports this important work.

I want the next generation to have a fighting chance against all cancers - chances my parents didn’t have. I remember as a kid, AIDS was a big thing, but it’s no longer a death sentence because of research and medicine that’s become available over the years. So please help in building the foundation for similiar results for cancer!

100% of every dollar you give supports new research directed by Dr. Renier Brentjens at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Dr. Brentjens’ lab focuses on immunotherapy research to treat acute and chronic leukemias.

"No matter how promising the research or how inspired the scientists, nothing can happen without the resources to fund the work. We now have many reasons to feel hopeful about using T cells in the treatment of many kinds of cancer, and we wouldn't be where we are without the support from organizations like The Terry Fox Run." ~ Dr. Renier Brentjens

CANCER IS NEVER STRAIGHTFORWARD
Cancer touches too many lives and hits too close to home, so I am doing what I can to stop this terrible disease. I am committed to raising money to help fund Dr. Brentjens’ research at MSK, and I need your help. Please make any size donation to join me in this fight!

SUPPORT LIFESAVING RESEARCH
None of Dr. Brentjens’ research would have been possible without the resources from donors like you. Since the Terry Fox Run for cancer research in New York City began more than two decades ago, over $3 million has been raised. Just a reminder: 100% of your gift goes to research. Be a part of the fight in ending cancer, donate today! 

THANK YOU