About LFC
About LFC
Lymphoma Foundation Canada
has its roots in two distinct, regional organizations, which were both founded
in 1998. The Lymphoma Research Foundation of Canada (LRFC) was founded in Vancouver in early 1998 by
Patricia Manson after she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Pat, who
became the first President of the LRFC, was diagnosed in 1997 with an
aggressive form of Lymphoma. After her diagnosis, she searched in vain for a
Canadian organization which focused on lymphoma research and also came to
realize that no Canadian lymphoma support group existed to facilitate the
distribution of pertinent information to patients. Pat established the LRFC
with the help of Drs. Connors and Hegele, and the legal assistance from the
firm of Russell & DuMoulin. In creating the LRFC, Pat gave her husband and
five children, family and many friends a larger-than-life figure to look up to;
Pat was a person who rose up to help others in her time of great personal struggle
against the cancer. Pat passed away a short time later on May 29, 1998.
Her vision of
creating the LRFC as an organization that might help others living with
lymphoma has continued through Lymphoma Foundation Canada.
The Canadian
Lymphoma Foundation was founded in 1998 by Deborah Sterritt in Toronto. Deborah was
diagnosed with an indolent form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995. In early
1998 Deb also discovered that no group existed in Canada which could provide patients
with the information they needed. With the help of Dr. Zanke, Terry Creighton
and Jane Mingay, she founded the Canadian Lymphoma Foundation (CLF).
The two
organizations merged in 2000. Both LRFC and CLF
recognized the need for a strong, national organization in order to benefit
lymphoma patients throughout Canada.
As a result, the two foundations joined in 2000, forming Lymphoma Foundation Canada.
The goal of LFC continues to focus on lymphoma research, education and
awareness in Canada.
Deb continues with her involvement in the Finance Committee, Terry Creighton
sits as Vice Chair, Board of Directors and Chair of the Fundraising Committee,
Dr. Joseph Connors is Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Dr.
Brent Zanke sits on the Scientific Advisory Board.
Since 1998, seven research fellowships have been
awarded in order to facilitate and support worthy research projects and
thousands of participants have benefited first-hand from timely, topical
information at some of the many educational workshops we have organized.
