Edmonton Eskimo Women Champion Ovarian Cancer Research
AUGUST 12, 2010
The Edmonton Eskimos’ fortunes may come and go on the football field, but the Edmonton Eskimo Women are clearly champions.
The Edmonton Eskimo Women are pleased to announce that they have successfully reached their goal of $100,000 towards ovarian cancer research at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women – an entire year early of their three-year commitment.
The Edmonton Eskimo Women’s Ovarian Cancer Research Endowment Fund was introduced in September of 2008 as a means to provide long term, sustainable funding for ovarian cancer research. With the help of the annual Edmonton Eskimo Women’s Dinner, the Edmonton Eskimos and various other donors, the endowment has raised a total of $100,000 to date. Funds raised will be made available to physician-researchers who practice at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women in the area of gynecological oncology.
“On behalf of the Edmonton Eskimo Women, I’d like to extend our thanks to all the women, supporters, sponsors and those businesses that embraced our vision from the beginning,” said Chair Joan Forge. “Helping us to meet our initial commitment of $100,000 in less than three years is amazing! While we have met our initial goal, we remain committed to raising dollars for research to end this horrific disease. Together we can make a difference!”
Every three and a half hours – or the time it takes the Edmonton Eskimos to play a game at Commonwealth Stadium – another Canadian woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This grim statistic certainly resonates with Dr. Valerie Capstick, a Gynecologic Oncologist at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. "Each day I meet women who are champions – champions who are living their lives in the face of a great adversary called ovarian cancer,” says Dr. Capstick. “Some of these women are victorious. Too many, unfortunately, are not. This is why the support of the Edmonton Eskimo Women and their success in creating this endowment fund has impressed me on both a personal and professional level.Not only did I care for one of their own, the late Pam Monastyrskyj, I know this fund means another yard is gained in the ongoing research to find an early marker, perhaps even a cure, for this disease."
"It was no surprise to anyone that when the women of the Edmonton Eskimos decided to create an endowment fund in ovarian cancer research at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women that it was met with resounding success – after all, hard work at the community level and commitment to important causes are rooted in this club's DNA,” says Andrew Otway, President and CEO, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. “The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is immensely proud of our association with the Edmonton Eskimos and their support for such important research."
The Edmonton Eskimo Women also announced that due to the renovations at Commonwealth Stadium, the annual Edmonton Eskimo Women’s Dinner has been put on hold for 2010. Fundraising efforts are still ongoing, including an auction for two full Eskimo 1970s retro uniforms from the August 6th game vs. the Toronto Argonauts. More details on the auction to come at a later date.
Photo: At the August 6 Eskimos game at Commonwealth Stadium, a cheque was presented as the Edmonton Eskimo Women reached their $100,000 goal to fund ovarian cancer research. From left to right: Joan Forge, Jenny Pogue, Deb McAvoy, Nicole Turenne, Holly Krueger, Erminia Russo-Thorpe, Anne McKinnon, Dr. Valerie Capstick.
