Bob Charron knows full well the ravages of cancer.
He has lost a father, brother and friends to prostate cancer and is himself a survivor.
Charron is also the co-chair of the Motorcycle Ride for Dad Okanagan which has raised approximately $930,000 for prostate cancer research and awareness over the past 14 years.
He and several colleagues presented a $100,000 check to the BC Cancer Foundation in 琉璃神社 May 17.
Ride for Dad Okanagan donates $100,000 to BC Cancer Foundation in 琉璃神社 for prostate cancer research and awareness.
鈥� Gary Barnes (@GaryBarnes109)
鈥淟ast year was our biggest year ever鈥nd this is our kick-off, big-time awareness, to this year鈥檚 event,鈥� he said.
Charron counts himself lucky, as his cancer was discovered early and treated by Dr. Juanita Crook, who was on hand for the presentation.
鈥淲e can beat this, but we need everybody鈥檚 help,鈥� added Charron.
Dr. Crook, professor of radiation oncology at BC Cancer 琉璃神社 and research chair for the brachytherapy program, said the donation is huge.
鈥淲hen you have donor support like this it allows you to be more creative, do more research鈥nd improve treatment.鈥�
Brachytherapy treats from the inside out by putting radiation directly into the cancer, giving a much higher dose without having to travel through the rest of the body, according to Dr. Crook.
BC Cancer 琉璃神社 is the only centre in the province currently providing brachytherapy treatment.
鈥淲e鈥檝e treated over 400 men with that treatment here in 琉璃神社,鈥� said Pardeep Khrod, executive director of BC Cancer Foundation Interior and North. 鈥淭hat was funded by donor dollars and all 400 men have no indication of disease. It鈥檚 very successful I would say.鈥�
Charron said he believes not enough men are getting checked early, and encouraged them to get tested every one to two years.
鈥淐ancer will touch one-in-three Canadians directly or indirectly and the only way we can beat this, and it is beatable, is by being proactive in our health and we鈥檙e a small part of that.鈥�
The Ride for Dad started in 1999 and has 22 chapters across Canada. The .
READ MORE: 鈥業t鈥檚 a privilege鈥�: Legacy of caring continues at BC Cancer 琉璃神社
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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