UFCW Canada annual campaign for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada tops $2.5 million

Toronto  – June 14, 2018 – The tremendous fundraising efforts of UFCW Canada members and Local Unions over the past year have once again reaffirmed the UFCW Canada family as Canada’s largest annual fundraising organization supporting the life-changing work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC).

At a special event in Toronto, UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema presented a donation of $2,512,929 to LLSC President Alicia Talarico, on behalf of the combined fundraising efforts of UFCW Canada members and Local Unions from across the country. The money raised goes toward supporting LLSC research, raising awareness of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and other blood cancers, and reaching out to those suffering from blood cancers.

At the presentation, Dr. Rena Buckstein of Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre was also introduced as the 2018 recipient of the UFCW Canada Award for Leukemia Research for her work to improve therapies for blood cancers, specifically myelodysplastic syndromes and lymphoma. This annual grant goes to the LLSC’s top scoring operating research grant applicant.

 “We are grateful that the efforts of UFCW Canada members and Local Unions have made such a difference to the vital work and research of the LLSC in the development of better treatments and therapies,” said National President Meinema. “For three decades, the UFCW Canada family has stood with families across this country in their battle with blood cancers, and we will be there until the battle against all blood cancers is won.”

Every year, UFCW Canada members, Local Unions, and allies organize and participate in numerous fundraising activities such as raffles, community picnics, 50-50 draws, car washes, sports tournaments, ride-a-thons, marathons, relays, and Light the Night walks to raise money for the fight against blood cancers. The Returns for Leukemia bottle drive is another pillar of the overall fundraising effort, through an Ontario-wide co-operative fundraiser between UFCW members and The Beer Store that converts deposits on bottles into donations to the LLSC. This season, the campaign contributed an incredible $1,785,712.24 to the overall campaign.

“UFCW Canada and its members have proven time and again their compassion for patients and determination to find cures for blood cancers” says LLSC President Alicia Talarico.  “We are grateful for their on-going and overwhelming support that has led to safer, more personalized, and effective treatments for those affected by blood cancers.”

Since 1985, UFCW Canada members and Local Unions have fundraised over $41.4 million in support of the vital work of the LLSC.

Thank you to UFCW Canada members and Local Unions