Fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

In 1985, our UFCW Canada family of members and Local Unions made a pledge to work together to support the efforts of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC).

Since then, your tremendous fundraising has raised more than $45.1 million for the LLSC. Combining all efforts across Canada, UFCW Canada members and Local Unions are a tower of hope and financial support for the work of the LLSC to find a cure, provide better therapies and patient support, and raise public awareness that blood cancer is a battle that can be won.

Advancing together, our LLSC fundraising has made a vital difference. Today, many kids and adults with leukemia and other blood cancers are living longer or are in remission because of new therapies that have led to higher survival rates and a better quality of life.

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC)

The mission of the LLSC is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. In 2018, LLSC invested almost $7.4 million in the creation of programs and delivery of services to improve the lives of Canadians affected by blood cancers – including a commitment of over $4.2 million in innovative, life-changing research to accelerate new cancer treatments, therapies, and cures; and $3.6 million towards funding patient services, programs, and education across Canada.

Today the survival rate for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is over 90%. 50 years ago it was just 3%.

The UFCW Canada Award for Leukemia Research

Each year, the LLSC presents the UFCW Canada Award for Leukemia Research to its top scoring operating research grant applicant. This vital partnership has contributed to many advancements in the treatment and outcomes of blood cancer.

2020 Recipient Dr. Doris Howell, RN PhD Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network, Toronto Dr. Doris Howell, along with Dr. Samantha Mayo, is developing of an interactive digital platform to enhance self-care, decision making, and quality of life for blood cancer patients. 2020 Recipient Dr. Samantha J. Mayo, RN PhD Asst. Professor, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing University of Toronto Dr. Samantha Mayo, along with Dr. Doris Howell, is developing an interactive digital platform to enhance self-care, decision making, and quality of life for blood cancer patients.

2019 Recipient Dr. Aly Karsan Michael Smith Genome Science Centre Vancouver Dr. Karsan's work focuses at the molecular level, using next-generation diagnostics to target optimal treatments for various forms of blood cancer, including MDS and leukemia.

2018 Recipient Dr. Rena Buckstein Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Toronto Dr. Rena Buckstein’s research focuses on new targeted biologic and immunologic therapies for blood cancers, specifically myelodysplastic syndromes and lymphoma.

2017 Recipient Dr. David Spaner     Sunnybrook Research Institute Toronto Dr. Spaner’s clinical practice involves research to develop better treatments for patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

2016 Recipient Dr. Aaron Schimmer University Health Network Toronto Dr. Schimmer’s research focuses on controlling specific proteins to develop potential new treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (ALM).