Achi news desk-
Linda and Ross Fitzpatrick have shared their lives together for 42 years, unfortunately one of their shared experiences over their decades long marriage is a cancer diagnosis.
“I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and had a lumpectomy and then had 28 days of radiation here in Kelowna, which was great because I could go there every day and come home,” Linda said.
“Subsequently, I was diagnosed again in 2022 which led to surgery and reconstructions and again BC Cancer has taken my case.”
Ross was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.
“I had brachytherapy,” Ross said. “I can’t say enough about the treatment I received at the cancer centre.”
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Ross is a former senator whose family has deep roots in the Okanagan. Now, Ross and Linda are expanding their reach as they donate $725,000 to the BC Cancer Foundation in Kelowna.
“Whatever we can help prevent and eliminate, that’s our desire and that’s our goal,” Ross said.
One of the couple’s inspirations to give was seeing the impact that other donors have had.
“It was a former donor who contributed the money to establish brachytherapy here in Kelowna and I hope that our donations, and donations from others, will help the organization moving forward,” said Linda.
Many members of the couple’s family have been touched by cancer, including their daughter.
The generous donation completes the campaign to raise 6.1 million dollars for a new treatment room at the BC Kelowna Cancer Centre.
“A brand new state-of-the-art systemic therapy room that will not only increase BC Cancer’s capacity by over 40 percent to deliver this chemotherapy treatment but also bring in phase one clinical trials,” said Pardeep Khrod, associate BC Cancer Foundation Vice President.
“When you can bring in those phase one clinical trials it gives BC Cancer clinicians the opportunity to also be involved in drug development and bring in drug development.”
This means that the Okanagan will have a 10,000 square foot room that offers patients first class treatments.
Khrod says construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed in 18 to 24 months. A cancer care revolution in the Okanagan.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
