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The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Becomes Bigger and Bolder

Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation aims to eliminate all women’s cancers with exciting new additions to its blockbuster event

(Ottawa, February 23, 2009) - The profound impact of the Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation will now be felt more deeply and broadly in the community.

Participants will now be given the option to designate whether funds they raise go towards the fight against breast cancer or towards combating other women’s cancers such as ovarian, cervical or uterine cancers. The 2009 edition will also feature a one-day walk alongside the regular two-day blockbuster event.

Explaining the rationale for making the Weekend to End Breast Cancer bigger and bolder, Linda Eagen, President and CEO of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation said, “The rationale for these exciting expansion initiatives is simple. This event has been incredibly successful and we now want to broaden its scope and increase participation to make an even bigger impact and affect more lives. Step by step, we will eliminate all women’s cancers.”

These thoughts were echoed by Dr. Michael Fung Kee Fung, Head Surgical Oncology; Director, Gynecological Oncology and Professor, Department of OB/GYN, Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa/Ottawa Hospital: “Research has shown links between breast cancer, and other gynecological cancers, notably ovarian. Given this organization’s mission to put an end to cancer, we take these links seriously. My colleagues and I are thrilled to see the expanded mandate. By bringing the full power of the Weekend to End Breast Cancer to bear upon other women’s cancers we dramatically increase the chances of major treatment breakthroughs.”

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About the ORCF

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer will benefit the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, a registered charity that supports cancer services and world-class cancer research across Eastern Ontario.  Funds raised will go directly into local research initiatives where researchers are investigating better ways to treat cancer, including targeted treatments that minimize the negative side effects while still effectively combating a patient’s cancer. We’re also learning more about how to predict and prevent cancer. Put together, this research is bringing us closer every day to an end to women’s cancers.

For more information about the event, or to register as a participant, please contact 613.722.7224 or sign up online at www.endcancer.ca.

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