(OTTAWA, ONTARIO) – One month after launching the 20-20 Campaign in support of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre expansion, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation unveiled its initial fundraising total of $1.9 million in support of this project. The announcement came moments before a ceremonial ringing of the Victory Bell by cancer patient and Ottawa Hospital nurse Shelley Zurcher, a spokesperson for this Campaign.

“It’s incredibly overwhelming to hear the sound of that bell knowing it represents the end of my chemotherapy,” said an emotional Zurcher who was surrounded by family and friends. “When I was first diagnosed with cancer I was certain that this was the end and I was going to die. Today I received my last dose of chemotherapy and I know that I have so many incredible things to look forward to.”

Her journey to health began with a surgery last December which removed most of her left lung. The nurse of 20 years then made her way to the Cancer Centre once a week for the past four months to receive chemotherapy.

As a token of appreciation for the care she received, Shelly Zurcher presented Paula Doering, Regional Vice President of Cancer Services for The Ottawa Hospital, with a pin from the Guardian Angel Program (GAP). This initiative gives patients the opportunity to recognize a staff member who made a difference in their care. Doering’s pinning was symbolic of the care Zurcher received and of the money raised so far through the 20-20 Campaign.

“The $1.9 million we’ve raised so far is a solid first step in providing better care for the tens of thousands of future patients who like Shelley, will walk through these doors,” said Danielle St-Aubin, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Vice President of Communications and Donor Relations.

The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre at the General Campus is undergoing the largest expansion in its history. The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s 20-20 Campaign aims to raise $20 million in 20 months for the project, which will double the current size of the Centre.

The expansion of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre is critical. The Ottawa Hospital is the hub of cancer care in our region and this year alone, more than 21,000 patients will rely on its fully integrated outpatient centre for treatment. This represents more than 190,000 patient visits.

The Ottawa Hospital is a multi-campus, academic health sciences centre, serving 1.5 million residents of Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, both in English and French. It provides care for more patients than any other hospital in Canada, and boasts specialty centres in cancer, heart, kidney and vision care, as well as rehabilitation services. For more information, visit The Ottawa Hospital Web site at www.ottawahospital.on.ca.

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s mission is to inspire and enable people to support the highest quality health care at The Ottawa Hospital and lifesaving research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. For more information, visit The Ottawa Hospital Foundation Web site at www.ohfoundation.ca.

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