UFCW Canada raises over $2 million for Leukemia Research!

Over $2 million reasons to celebrate! To see a photo gallery of the UFCW Canada 22nd Annual Leukemia Gala, click on the image above.

You must have JavaScript enabled to watch this video UFCW Canada Local 175 Gala video

You must have JavaScript enabled to watch this video UFCW Canada National Office Team in Training

The UFCW Canada National Office Team in Training

On June 10, UFCW Canada activists proved once again why they are one of the world’s leading Leukemia fighters by raising yet another remarkable sum for cancer research. The amount raised by UFCW Canada members, families and friends in the last 12 months once again exceeded the million dollar mark by totaling a whopping $2,028,264 for leukemia research.

In keeping with the union’s tradition, the fundraising total for the last 12 months was announced and celebrated at the 22^nd Annual Leukemia Gala which drew UFCW Canada activists from across the country to acknowledge the unparalleled contribution the union makes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC).  To date UFCW Canada has raised $23,802,066 since the union first joined the fight for a cure in the mid-1980s.

“The awesome contribution of UFCW Canada members to this life-saving cause is a great example of what we can achieve through combining our efforts and acting collectively toward a common goal,” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley who hosted the Gala and announced the final tally for the 2010-2011 fundraising year.

Every year UFCW Canada members across the country organize and participate in numerous fundraising activities like raffles, bake sales, 50-50 draws, car washes, golf tournaments, ride-a-thons, marathons, relays and Light the Night walks.

UFCW Canada Local 12R24 once again wowed Gala participants by announcing “Returns for Leukemia” raised over a million dollars for the second year in a row. Every last weekend in May, Local 12R24 members, families and friends make “Returns for Leukemia” possible by collecting bottle donations from Beer Store customers at locations across Ontario. This year “Returns for Leukemia” raised a total of $1,212,712 – with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the LLSC.

This year’s Gala also took a few moments to pay a special tribute to UFCW Canada Local 175 activist and legendary leukemia fighter Ted Dawes who – after 10 years of literally going above and beyond for the cause – announced he is hanging up his climbing and walking shoes. Know as “Ted on the Roof” and “Ted on the Road” throughout Ontario, Brother Dawes raised $138,000 for Leukemia research over the last nine years through spending the Victoria Day long weekend on the roof of Morello's Independent Grocer in Peterborough, and in 2009 walking from Ottawa to Toronto.

UFCW Canada is the single largest contributor to the LLSC and the funds raised by the campaign support a long list of projects, services and research prizes, including the UFCW Canada Award for Leukemia Research which is a $120,000 research grant awarded every two years to the most advanced researchers in Canada.