Achi news desk-
LETHBRIDGE –
A healing garden at the Jack Ady Cancer Center in Lethbridge has a new name.
The Amir and Saker Manji Healing Garden was named after Amir Manji, who went through his own cancer journey, and comes following a $500,000 donation to the center from his family.
“Being able to give back to the Jack Ady Cancer Center where people from Lethbridge and surrounding areas can receive needed and best-in-class care, here, where they call home, is really important to us, ” said Natasha Manji, one of Amir’s daughters.
Amir, who was being treated for Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, spent a lot of time in the outdoor areas of the cancer centre, helping to allow his family to develop meaningful relationships with staff.
“Immediately, we became part of another community,” says Natasha.
“A community of doctors and partners and professionals who went out of their way – went beyond their way of their normal jobs – to make sure we received care, treatment and compassion.”
Amir died in 2018.
Since then, his family has wanted to give something back to the centre, so that those going through their own journey have a place and the equipment they need most.
“What donations do is what I’m saying goes beyond what the governments can do,” said Wendy Beauchesne, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
“So, it’s more about excellence, so that means better equipment … the latest and greatest equipment that we can get, that will help the cancer journey.
“It could mean the patient experience and patient support, things like financial support for patients who have to travel distances for treatment.”
This is the largest donation in the history of the Jack Ady Cancer Centre.
Among the new medical equipment purchased with the donation is PTW’s new BeamSCAN, which improves the accuracy and safety of radiation therapy.
“At the end of the day, healthcare is about people taking care of people and helping to improve and supporting the staff to take care of the cancer patient,” said Beauchesne.
Natasha says her father always told them to give back and serve their community.
“I hear a lot of people today saying, ‘Your father would be so happy,’ and what I know for sure is that it matches his values,” he said.
