Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation Celebrates Accelerating Cancer Care in Cape Breton

SYDNEY, N.S – Over the last year, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation has been working in partnership with the provincial government to provide world-class cancer care for Cape Bretoners, with a goal to purchase a new linear accelerator for the Cape Breton Cancer Centre.

The new linear accelerator’s price tag is $3.7 million, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation worked with generous donors and community groups to raise $1 million to ensure the equipment would be in place for spring 2016.

The Cape Breton Cancer Centre treats 150 people every day, about half of those patients would be receiving radiation therapy treatment – meaning they would rely on the life-saving care of the new linear accelerator. The new linear accelerator is replacing an older machine that was close to 16 years old and was at the end of its lifespan.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the linear accelerator was purchased and delivered to the Cancer Centre in mid-November. Since that time, a team of professionals have been working tirelessly to commission the machine for operation.

On Friday April 15, 2016, the Foundation and the Cape Breton Cancer Centre are hosting a celebration to officially open the linear accelerator, as it will deliver its first treatment on April 19, 2016.

Donors and community groups that supported the purchase of the machine have been invited to tour the radiation department at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre and attend a reception to learn how their gifts have impacted cancer care in Cape Breton.

“The support we received from our community was incredible. Knowing that cancer touches everyone, donors rallied around the project to ensure that we had access to world-class care at home in Cape Breton, “says Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation CEO, Brad Jacobs. “Our celebration on Friday is about thanking and honoring the donors, as well as, the staff in the Cape Breton Cancer Centre for all they have done and continue to do for healthcare in Cape Breton.”

Media is invited to join the first tour at 12:15p.m on Friday April 15, 2016 in the Cape Breton Cancer Centre. Photo opportunities and interviews will be available with Foundation CEO, Brad Jacobs, Cancer Centre Director, Connie Gregory, and cancer centre staff.

-30-

For more information or to RSVP to the Linear Accelerator tour, please contact:

Kelsea MacNeil

Communications Officer

Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation

902.567.7054

902.304.0103