2025 Annual Report
Opening Remarks
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Each day across British Columbia, 80,000 patients, and their families, experience the fear and uncertainty of living with cancer. In these moments — when the sky feels heavy and dark — your support shines through like a ray of sunlight through the clouds.
Your generosity is the reason brighter days are possible. This year, you helped illuminate a path of hope for tens of thousands of British Columbians — bringing us significantly closer to our Beyond Belief campaign goal of raising $500 million to transform cancer care in B.C.
In 2025, an inspiring 84,174 donors — nearly 2,000 more than last year — came together to help us achieve $112.4 million in revenue. More than just a record-breaking number, it’s a powerful message to every person facing cancer: you are not alone.
Thanks to your commitment, this year we helped launch initiatives that are bringing more precise, less toxic treatments closer to home for patients in the Interior, including a BC Cancer – Kelowna Research & Development Hub and the first-ever Surgical Oncology Research Program, led by Dr. Chris Baliski.
Foundation-fuelled BC Cancer research — from a breakthrough in stopping the spread of childhood bone cancer, which has the potential to increase survival rates by 50%, to a world-first study enabling early-stage endometrial cancer patients to preserve their fertility — is keeping families together, allowing them more moments, memories and milestones.
Philanthropic investment is also forging new frontiers of hope, such as BC Cancer’s first CAR-T clinical trial for leukemia and lymphoma, in which 43% of participants experienced complete regression — offering a lifeline to patients who had run out of options.
Your support powers the groundbreaking work of world-renowned BC Cancer researchers, including Dr. Rob Olson and Dr. Bernie Eigl who were recognized this year for their exceptional contributions to the clinical trials community.
As we mark the BC Cancer Foundation’s 90th Anniversary, this milestone is not ours alone — it’s a shared celebration with you, our donors, whose unwavering support has shaped nine decades of progress and life-saving impact.
Sarah Roth,
President & CEO,
BC Cancer Foundation
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
It’s a privilege to share this message in what has been a landmark year for the BC Cancer Foundation. For the first time in our history, we surpassed $100 million in revenue — a remarkable achievement that reflects the deep generosity and dedicated commitment of our donor community from across the province.
This year also marked a new chapter in my journey with the Foundation, as I stepped into the role of board chair. I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance and support of the entire board and especially our immediate past chair, John McCarthy, whose leadership helped position us for this success.
Like many of you, I have experienced firsthand how cancer impacts families. This personal connection made it especially meaningful to help steward the $11.3 million fundraising campaign for the new BC Cancer – Victoria Ernie & Yvonne Yakimovich Integrated Care and Research Pavilion.
This first-of-its-kind, fully donor-funded facility will offer a dedicated space for Supportive Care Services, including Patient & Family Counselling, and will serve as a model for other cancer centres across the province in housing these crucial life-saving programs in one patient-centred location.
Since joining the board in 2021, I’ve been fortunate to witness the announcement of all four new BC Cancer centres, in Burnaby, Nanaimo, Kamloops and a second in Surrey. Expanding from six to ten centres is a giant step toward improving access to care for more British Columbians.
Equally inspiring is the way communities across B.C. have rallied to support this expansion. From the generous donations from the McCarthy family and the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society in Burnaby to gifts from Mid Island Co-op in Nanaimo and Nanak Foods in Surrey, local support has been incredible — and deeply appreciated.
More than ever, this past year has shown what’s possible when we come together. You can take pride in knowing that every time you donate to the BC Cancer Foundation, you’re investing directly in care and innovation for British Columbians. Every dollar we raise stays right here in our province, advancing world-leading research and treatment options in the very communities where we live, work and raise our families.
On behalf of the board of directors, thank you for helping to bring world-class cancer care closer to home for families across B.C.
Miranda Lam, K.C.,
Board Chair,
BC Cancer Foundation
Financial Highlights
April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
This year, together with you, our dedicated community of donors, we reached a milestone $112.4 million in revenue — surpassing $100 million for the first time in BC Cancer Foundation history.
As the fundraising partner of BC Cancer and the largest funder of cancer research and care in the province, this achievement reflects the collective generosity of donors from across the province and will drive life-saving breakthroughs and bring leading-edge treatment closer to home for all British Columbians. With your support, we are transforming cancer care in B.C.
Fundraising: $71 million — represents all donations received as a result of annual fundraising programs, major gifts and bequests.
Investment and Other Income: $33.6 million — includes interest, dividends and realized gains on investments.
Charitable Events: $7.8 million — represents revenues generated primarily from mass participation events.
Total: $112.4 million
*The financial highlights on this page are based on BC Cancer Foundation’s audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2025.
We’re Going Beyond Belief — Thanks to You
In reflecting on a year of extraordinary progress, we recognize the profound impact your support has had in moving us closer to our ambitious Beyond Belief campaign goal of raising $500 million.
The Beyond Belief campaign is guided by bold, transformative goals that will redefine cancer research and care in B.C. With your partnership, we are pursuing the following priorities:
- Activating our world-class experts to create cutting-edge research opportunities to attract and retain top talent and train and develop the next generation at BC Cancer.
- Advancing bold, groundbreaking innovations in precision treatment, early detection and screening that will have global impact.
- Accelerating province-wide access to care through equipping new and existing BC Cancer centres with state-of-the-art technology, expanding B.C.’s clinical trials network and enhancing services to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of patients.
Innovation Advanced
Donor-supported advancements in life-saving research, cutting-edge care and early detection tools and screening include:
Historic Support From The Interior Fuels New Kelowna Research Hub
$3 million in community support including a transformational $2.76 million donation from the Krysko Family Foundation — which marks the largest contribution the Foundation has ever received in the Interior — helped establish a BC Cancer – Kelowna Research & Development Hub. The new hub will integrate the multi-disciplinary expertise of radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgery to develop more precise, minimally invasive and less toxic treatments for patients.
The new hub will bring together 20 BC Cancer – Kelowna researchers and leverage more than $20 million in donor investment since 2019.
Donor-Funded Blood Test Study Informs Life-Saving Treatment
Dante Di Pasquale has just finished treatment in an immunotherapy clinical trial that in theory should not have worked to treat his disease. And yet, he is now cancer free — thanks to a donor-funded BC Cancer – Vancouver study using a simple, non-invasive blood test to screen for genomic markers in prostate cancer patients, which detected a rare mutation that does respond well to the treatment.
One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in B.C. — this blood test could help provide more targeted treatment.
More Families in B.C. Will Benefit From Hereditary Cancer Care
Thanks to a visionary investment from the Diamond Foundation to accelerate the identification and support of families at risk of hereditary cancer, BC Cancer’s Hereditary Cancer Program has launched genetic testing for all breast cancer patients under age 60 in Vancouver to identify genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, that increase the risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers.
In gratitude for the Diamond Foundation’s generosity — which funded three innovative testing programs, additional support resources, specialized fellowships and a dedicated space — the BC Cancer Foundation was pleased to announce the naming of the Diamond Foundation Hereditary Cancer Centre, which opened in December 2024.
5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary — when diagnosed early, breast cancer has a 92% survival rate.
New Medicinal Chemistry Lab Made Possible By Dedicated Donors
The Collings Stevens Family Foundation generously donated $1 million to support a matching campaign for a new state-of-the-art facility. A Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory will be established at BC Cancer’s L.J. Blackmore Cancer Research Centre and will play a critical role in accelerating the discovery of molecules that drive drug development for a wide range of cancers.
Opened in 2005, the L.J. Blackmore Cancer Research Centre has grown to include 93 faculty, more than 400 research staff and 340 research trainees.
World-First Study Preserves Fertility In Endometrial Cancer Patients
After being diagnosed with Grade 1 endometrial cancer, having a second child seemed out of reach for Marlifel Castillo — until she was referred to a groundbreaking BC Cancer study designed to treat early-stage cancer while preserving fertility. The success of the new protocol study, that utilizes resection surgery to delay hysterectomy, is expected to influence global practice — enabling more young women like Marlifel to realize the dream of starting or adding to their family.
As of November 2024, 40 young endometrial cancer patients have safely postponed a hysterectomy under the new protocol study.
Access Accelerated
Cancer care is closer to home for patients across the province thanks to donor support:
Advanced Oral and Prostate Cancer Care Comes to Abbotsford
Thanks to $2 million in donor support, BC Cancer – Abbotsford has opened two new advanced cancer care programs — a high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy suite to build on treatment options for prostate cancer patients and a specialized oral oncology clinic — expanding essential services for patients in the Fraser region.
The new oral oncology clinic in Abbotsford will serve more than 3,000 patients a year.
Landmark Supportive Care Facility in Victoria Is Fully Donor Funded
Island donors, including the Yakimovich family who contributed a transformational $2.5 million, have fully funded the new BC Cancer – Victoria Ernie & Yvonne Yakimovich Integrated Care and Research Pavilion. The landmark facility will provide a dedicated space for BC Cancer’s Supportive Care programs, including Patient & Family Counselling, Hereditary Counselling and Medical Genetics.
12,000 square feet of new space will home supportive cancer care services in Victoria.
New BC Cancer Centres Bolstered By Their Communities
Fraser Region
Nanak Foods donated $500,000 to kickstart a $30 million campaign to equip a new, second BC Cancer centre in Surrey with the latest in life-saving technology.
Burnaby
Named in honour of the McCarthy family’s legacy of support, including their recent $5 million gift, the BC Cancer – Burnaby McCarthy Centre received a boost from the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society with a $1 million matching gift.
Vancouver Island
Mid Island Co-op generously matched donations up to $1 million to fuel the development of the new BC Cancer – Nanaimo.
A second BC Cancer centre in Surrey will enable 50,000 more radiation treatments and 22,000 chemotherapy visits annually in the Fraser region, while BC Cancer – Nanaimo will provide 20,000 additional radiation treatments each year for Island residents.
Kelowna's Systematic Therapy Suite Campaign Is Complete
More than 115 generous donors, including Marshall Eliuk rallied to raise $6.1 million, well ahead of the two-year anticipated timeframe, to bring a new, state-of-the-art Systemic Therapy Suite to BC Cancer – Kelowna.
Kelowna’s new Systemic Therapy Suite will increase capacity to deliver treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, by 40%.
World’s Best Activated
Donor investment in B.C. talent is empowering world-first discoveries and leading-edge research and initiatives that are changing the way the world treats cancer:
BC Cancer Breakthrough in Stopping The Spread Of Childhood Bone Cancer
BC Cancer’s Dr. Poul Sorensen and Dr. Michael Lizardo have discovered a drug that could stop the deadly spread of childhood sarcoma (the most common bone cancer in young people) — an incredible breakthrough that could have saved the life of Terry Fox.
Preventing osteosarcoma from spreading to the lungs increases survival rates by 50%.
BC Cancer Experts Awarded For Excellence In Research
BC Cancer experts Prince George’s Dr. Rob Olson and Vancouver’s Dr. Bernie Eigl were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the clinical trials community and their incredible service and support to advance clinical trial research to improve outcomes across B.C.
Clinical trials being led out of Prince George increase access to life-saving research for patients in the North who may need to travel up to 12 hours to receive care.
Deeley Research Centre Advances Immunotherapy For Blood Cancers
Led by Dr. Brad Nelson, BC Cancer – Victoria’s Deeley Research Centre (DRC) is bringing new hope to patients who have run out of treatment options — including BC Cancer’s first CAR-T clinical trial for leukemia and lymphoma, in which 43% of participants achieved complete regression and are now, two or more years out from treatment, cancer-free without signs of relapse.
The Deeley Research Centre was established 100% through donor funding in 2003.
Kelowna-Led Research Is Improving Surgical Outcomes
A $1.5 million donation from Ken and Gloria Sargent is launching the first ever Surgical Oncology Research Program at BC Cancer – Kelowna, led by surgical oncologist, Dr. Chris Baliski. This historical gift will transform surgical oncology research and enhance cancer care in the Interior and across B.C. — and continue to position Kelowna as a leader in this vital field of cancer research.
Lymphedema (painful swelling in the limbs) affects 30% of patients who undergo lymph node removal — Dr. Baliski is introducing a cutting-edge procedure to prevent this chronic condition.
Leaving A Legacy
Giving Back Through A Gift In His Will
Three cancer journeys — his parents and his own — led Baljit Dhillon to leave a life-saving legacy of gratitude, through a gift in his will, to the BC Cancer Foundation for other British Columbians who will face the disease.
Last year, donors collectively gave over $20 million in gifts through their estate plans.
BC Cancer Foundation: 90 Years Of Discovery And Hope In B.C.
Since 1935, the BC Cancer Foundation has served as a powerful catalyst for change, driving innovation and supporting the deeply personal journeys of British Columbians facing cancer.
As we celebrate 90 years of donor-fuelled progress, we remain steadfast in our vision of a world free from cancer. Our focus is firmly on a future in which more people not only survive but thrive after diagnosis — and we remain committed to advancing life-saving research and care to continue shaping a brighter, cancer-free tomorrow.
Thank You
Because of you, this past year has been one of record-breaking impact. Thanks to your support, we can dream bigger, reach farther and act faster — to drive wide-impact solutions and bring new hope to families across British Columbia facing cancer.
We invite you to click on the images below to explore more about how your support is helping us transform cancer research and care for patients across the province.
