A Message of Hope

I welcome you to our sixth edition of the Helping Hand newsletter of 2009/10. It has been my pleasure, as the President of The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program Committee at Princess Margaret Hospital to bring you this newsletter, as a way to keep our donors and those seeking information on new drug development, up to date.

This newsletter is about HOPE. I believe that HOPE is the great life force that can Conquer Cancer in our Lifetime.

I would now like to tell you my story. It’s about sharing my journey, and in doing so, passing on to you the importance of bringing new oncology drugs and the testing of these drugs, to the patient. The story is also yours. It’s about you and the HOPE that the work being done at Princess Margaret Hospital, by researchers, scientists, clinicians, pharmacologists, oncologists and technicians, brings newer, better, less invasive drugs and treatments to treat cancer.

My husband Robert, was a gutsy, smart, strong, impatient, stubborn, challenging, fun loving, hard working family man. He was an entrepreneur, with a big and generous heart, and would always go out of his way to help those in need. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999. Three months after his surgery at Toronto General Hospital, while preparing for radiation at Princess Margaret Hospital, he was diagnosed with incurable gallbladder cancer.

While Robert’s prognosis was grim, he never gave up HOPE – HOPE of receiving a new drug that would give him a few more years to live. Robert expected and demanded excellence from those that he knew could deliver. He did his research on cancer institutions that were delivering the most up to date drugs and surgery. We traveled throughout North America, and we ended up back here, in Toronto, at one of the most up to date cancer institutions in North America – Princess Margaret Hospital – an institution of excellence.

Time was not on Robert’s side, and with his body weakened from chemo, he received the targeted drug Gleevec. At the time, Gleevec was the new super drug. Gleevec had passed through phase III clinical trials and was now approved for patient use. Robert responded well. The signs looked promising. His remission was short lived, but it was a remission. This gave Robert HOPE – a window of hope that newer targeted oncology drugs would be available for clinical trials. He was willing and anxious to take part – without these trials, Robert knew he was destined to succumb to his disease very soon.

As Robert was deep into fighting his weary battle with tremendous strength, we asked Princess Margaret Hospital. “What can we do to help to bring this insidious disease we call cancer to its knees?” Their answer – “invest in new drug development”.

In January 2001, at Princess Margaret Hospital, The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program was born. Dr. Malcolm Moore, head of the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Princess Margaret Hospital, became the Director of our program, with Drs. Amit Oza and Lillian Siu as Co-Directors and Dr. Eric Chen as our Staff Physician. The program was to be comprised of a multi-disciplinary team devoted to researching and developing new agents and therapies to eradicate cancer, primarily through early phase clinical trials. The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program would also work in concert with the Ontario Cancer Institute’s Drug Discovery program to uncover biomarkers that will enable more targeted and effective drugs. The Bras New Drug Development Program was given 5,000 square feet of space at Princess Margaret Hospital. With funds raised from our annual Bras New Drug Golf Tournament, and interest gained from our endowment, a Gluckstein Design set of offices were created! What began with a staff of 5, is today a staff of 82! We have outgrown our centre on the 5th floor at Princess Margaret Hospital and have spilled over to the 4th floor, and to 620 University Avenue and Lucliffe Place on Bay Street. In addition, we have grown to include a consortium of 15 cancer sites throughout North America! HOPE resounds loudly with this growth!

This newsletter and our website (www.brasfamily.com), will further educate and inform you, our reader, that our progress into the field of cancer gives us all HOPE.

Robert did not get to realize all of his dreams. He passed away on September 4, 2002 at 55 years of age. But one dream he did get to realize, was The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family New Drug Development Program at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Thank you to our donors – our donors who have continued to support new drugs and the phase I, II and III testing of these new drugs. In particular I would like to thank Arlie Katzman, Roche Canada and the Francis family for their generous commitments. Our very successful Tribute Event last October, with all costs covered by our sponsors, and over $700,000 raised. To the past 5 golf tournaments at The Summit, which raised in total, half a million dollars! To Roche Canada, who have supported our fellowship program for the last 6 years! To our yearly Bras speaker series – with a special thank you to our most recent speaker, Dr. Mahesh Parmar, Medical Research Council, Clinical Trials Unit , Professor at University College in London, England. Our new Committee Member – Mr. Charles Hanna who held a reception for our charity in his sumptuous condo. Thank you to those who quietly donate, and wish no special thanks but to work diligently to Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime!

We certainly welcome additional donations to drive forward the pace of discovery in the Bras New Drug Development Program. The program’s fundraising priorities are outlined in this newsletter. If you are interested in learning more about the program and funding needs, please contact Christina Lebesis, Associate Director, Major Gifts at The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation at 416.946.2138 or christina.lebesis@pmhf.ca.

I have HOPE, our physicians, scientists have HOPE, and our hope is that in reading this newsletter, visiting our website and visiting Princess Margaret Hospital’s website – www.pmhf.ca, you come away with hope, that your contribution will make a difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read the Helping Hand Newsletter. Thank you for helping us to continue to achieve our dreams, by donating to The Robert & Maggie Bras and Family Bras New Drug Development Program at PMH, and in doing so, keeping HOPE alive.

Yes, We Can Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime!

Sincerely,

Maggie Bras
President, Advisory Committee
www.brasfamily.com
maggiebras@gmail.com