Who We Are

Quebecers are generous people. I can confidently say that because here at the Foundation, we have the good fortune to see your generosity every single day. We are especially fortunate to have popular events like the CIBC Run for the Cure and the Circle of Friends events, as well as many unsolicited donations, to help us raise the funds we need to fulfill our mission. We are thrilled by these displays of community spirit. In return, we consider it our duty to tell you how your money is invested, and to show you how it makes a real difference in the fight against breast cancer.

The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation’s commitment to the people of Quebec has three elements: funding breast cancer research, promoting breast health through education and awareness, and facilitating support for people touched by breast cancer. All of the money we receive goes toward those three parts of our mission. For example, last November we announced $8 million in research grants for a wide range of projects, which a rigorous peer-review process had identified as the most deserving and innovative. Among other things, the studies are aimed at developing better treatments for women with breast cancer, improving our understanding of the behaviours linked to breast cancer screening, and identifying genetic mutations that change an individual’s susceptibility to the disease. Since its inception, the Foundation has granted more than $23 million to Quebec researchers, and we are very proud of that fact. The true impact of those investments is most clearly seen in the ever-increasing survival rate for the disease, which went from 71% in 1974 to 88% in 2008. Naturally, we are most interested in finding the cause of breast cancer, so that it can eventually be eradicated once and for all. That is why we will continue to fund projects that will provide additional insight into the factors that may influence the disease’s appearance.

As well as funding research, we are committed to providing services. Because we know that 6,200 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in 2012, representing 30% of new cancer cases among women, there is a great deal of work to do in the fields of support and awareness. That is why we put so much effort into providing a financial support program and a help and referrals hotline for patients. By supporting these women, who often feel thoroughly dispirited by a diagnosis, every day we see just how crucial your donations are. Meanwhile, with our education program we provide free presentations in schools and companies all over Quebec. Just over a month ago, we also launched a set of tools to help women take charge of their breast health. For more information about the campaign, visit www.breastobservation.org.

Your donations allow our Foundation to fund all of these projects and to be active in the community. By participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure, organizing fundraisers for our benefit, or purchasing the “pink ribbon” products sold by our partners, you are making a real difference! You should continue to be careful when making a decision to give to any organization. It’s your money, and you should be certain that it is being put to good use by an organization whose cause is important to you. On that note, thank you for having chosen us!

Nathalie Le Prohon
Chair of the Board