The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation was formed in 1995 by a grassroots movement to raise funds for the expansion of Cancer Services at the Regional Cancer Centre and to ensure cancer care remained a priority in our community year-round.

For more than a decade the Cancer Foundation has worked in partnership with local hospitals, supportive care groups, researchers and cancer care specialists to make this vision a reality.

Since 1995 the Cancer Foundation has raised more than $20 million for cancer care in our community. Funds raised remain in Eastern Ontario and are used for: early detection and expert diagnosis, comprehensive cancer care and treatment, leading edge cancer research and clinical trials and cancer awareness and education programs.

In December 2005 the Cancer Foundation officially launched its capital expansion program entitled the "Courage Campaign." The $20 million Courage Campaign will fund the private-sector portion of the $100 million plus multi-faceted cancer care and research expansion project. The Courage Campaign will essentially double the Regional Cancer Program's capacity to serve the 1.2 million residents of Eastern Ontario.

The project will help with the expansion and creation of new treatment facilities at the Ottawa Hospital's General Campus and the Queensway Carleton Hospital. It will also double the physical space available for research and clinical trials — accelerating the progression of new life-saving therapies from 'lab-bench to beside.

In 2008, the Cancer Foundation opened the region's first Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor's Park. The public park offers cancer survivors and their families a place of inspiration, reflection and motivation. The park is located on 4.5 acres of green space at the corner of Alta Vista Dr., Industrial Ave., and Riverside Dr.

September 2009 marks a new era for the Cancer Foundation as we adopt a new logo and brand. The Cancer Foundation is renewing its commitment to cancer care in Eastern Ontario and to be the voice for cancer survivorship in our community. Our tagline: Leadership. Partnership. Survivorship further proves this philosophy. We offer leadership recognizing the needs of cancer patients and cancer care specialists, and work to fill those needs. We work in partnership with the community for fundraising, awareness, research and education. And our overall goal is to help increase cancer survivorship in our community.

At the same time as the brand launch, the Cancer is embarking on a fundraising campaign to build a new centre for cancer survivorship called Wellspring Ottawa. The new centre will offer psychosocial programs for cancer patients and their families and caregivers — covering a wide range of topics including: cancer prevention, nutrition, financial assistance, coping skills, and many more. For a complete look at the cancer survivorship centre please click here.