Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

MEDIA ADVISORY

Newly named fund in ovarian cancer research announced by Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and Alberta Women’s Health Foundation

Edmonton’s James H. Brown & Associates makes first donation to newly named fund in support of women’s health research at Women and Children’s Health Research Institute at Lois Hole Hospital for Women and the University of Alberta.

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June 23, 2021
EDMONTON, AB—The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and Alberta Women’s Health Foundation are excited to announce a new name in the fight against ovarian cancer: the Edmonton Elks Women’s Ovarian Cancer Research Endowment. The fund supports local researchers in their ongoing work to develop an early detection system and new treatment protocols in ovarian cancer—a disease whose stealth, silence, and deadly outcomes makes it one of the most feared gynecological cancers in women.

“Like the strength of competition on the gridiron, this fund does a lot of heavy lifting in the lab,” said Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. “We’re proud to rename this fund, grateful to Elks Football, and really excited to start the next chapter on research excellence and outcomes.”

The fund, originally started in 2008 by women who work with or were connected to the front office of the team, announced the fund in memory of long-time EE staffer, Pam Monastyrskyj. Pam succumbed to ovarian cancer after a lengthy and courageous battle that inspired everyone around her, both on and off the field.

Newly named to reflect the exciting new chapter in Edmonton’s CFL Football franchise, the Edmonton Elks Women’s Ovarian Cancer Research Endowment grows each year through annual contributions made by the team’s Annual Women’s Dinner, and other fundraising activities.

Today, the fund received additional support through the generous contribution of Edmonton business James H. Brown & Associates, long-time supporters of the Annual Women’s Dinner.

“If clinical care and new treatment protocols are the engine of healthcare, then the track it follows is research. We are grateful to James H. Brown & Associates for demonstrating alliance, allegiance and a commitment to this research,” Rutherford continued, “And we look forward to demonstrating how this support helps to take us from lab to life.”

Each year the endowed fund will support the work of Research Chair Dr. Cheng-Hang Lee, a Canadian leader and innovator who is taking a provincial approach to the research in his lab.                            

Dr. Lee brings vast experience to his lead as Research Chair, including the recognition of a new cancer type that was subsequently adopted in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system for tumours of the female reproductive system. With his clinician-scientist training background, the focus of his research over the past decade has been on the genetics and biology of aggressive gynecological cancers.

Dr. Lee is a member of the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), a university-affiliated research institute that receives funding from the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation and Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and, in the case of this Research Chair, the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“We look forward to working closely with Dr. Lee and this includes ensuring that the Edmonton Elks football club has every opportunity to learn how its fund directly supports his work,” concluded Rutherford. “So, let’s get back to it, shall, we? Let’s move forward and achieve wins on the field and wins in the lab.”

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Lindsay Robertson
Director of Communications, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
Email: LRobertson@royalalex.org | Mobile: 780-217-2613

About the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

Established in 1984, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is committed to supporting improved health care outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of people who seek treatment at the Royal Alexandra Hospital every year. The Foundation funds ground-breaking education, cutting-edge research, next-generation technologies and facility enhancements. It also supports a growing number of specialized centres of health care excellence located at the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, including the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, the CK Hui Heart Centre, the Orthopedic Surgery Centre and the Eye Institute of Alberta.

Stay up to date with RAHF news at royalalex.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @RAHFoundation and @LoisHoleHosp

About the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation

The Alberta Women's Health Foundation (AWHF) is a pan-provincial fundraising brand supporting the advancement of care and research in women's health. The AWHF was launched by the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation as an extension of its mission in women’s health in 2020. This fundraising health brand seeks to meet the increasing need for funding related to women’s health initiatives and seeks to close gaps that exist in women’s health knowledge, research, and care through the development of meaningful partnerships across public, private, and philanthropic sectors. In addition to individual and foundation support, AWHF will seek partnerships with Alberta-based companies and corporations whose community investment and cause marketing dollars align with the mission of improving the health of women and families in our province.

For more information, visit albertawomenshealthfoundation.org. Stay up to date with AWHF and our campaign to #RefocusTheResearch by following us on Twitter @abwomenshealth and Instagram @abwomenshealthfoundation

About the Women and Children's Health Research Institute

The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) supports research excellence dedicated to improving the health and lives of women and children. WCHRI was founded in 2006 as a partnership between the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, with core funding from the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Women's Health Foundation. Our membership is made up of over 500 leading researchers who are passionately committed to women and children's health and well-being.

Follow WCHRI on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

About the Alberta Cancer Foundation

The Alberta Cancer Foundation is the official fundraising partner for all 17 cancer centres in the province, including the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. Through this partnership our donors are able to make the most significant impact with a straight line of sight to patients. Our purpose is to create more moments for Albertans facing cancer by inspiring our community to give to innovation in detection, treatment and care.

Learn more at albertacancer.ca