The largest donation ever made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation鈥檚 breast cancer team will mean a massive boost for research into rare and hard to treat forms of the disease, including life-threatening subtypes that affect younger women.
Laurie Rix, through the Rix Family Foundation, has pledged $5 million to the B.C. Cancer Foundation to advance tailored treatment solutions and cures for cancer patients.
The donation builds on the legacy of Rix鈥檚 late father, Dr. Donald Rix, who made medical history as the first patient in the world to have a treatment based on the genomic makeup of his cancer.
鈥淚n the 11 years since my father passed away, progress has been made in leaps and bounds. When my father was facing his cancer, we went for consults all over the world, and it was only right here at B.C. Cancer where they had the technology, progressive thinking and willingness to take the leap into precision medicine as a part of care,鈥� said Rix. 鈥淚 am so proud to invest in the B.C. Cancer team as they are absolute leaders in their field.鈥�
Laurie Rix鈥檚 late husband, 91原创 broadcaster Neil Macrae, also faced a cancer battle. He had male breast cancer, along with two other forms of cancer. He died three years ago.
The donation will support B.C. Cancer鈥檚 breast cancer study, B-PRECISE, which invites individuals facing breast cancer in B.C. to take part in research, with a focus on tackling unmet medical needs and bringing precision medicine to patients.
The donation kicks off B.C. Cancer Foundation鈥檚 $20 million campaign to Break Down Women鈥檚 Cancers.