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NEWS RELEASE — April 2006
"Dr. Patty's Pals" raise funds for the UBC Breast Cancer Reconstruction Program—a charitable recipient of the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K. Over the last 7 years, this event has raised in excess of $430,000 for health related causes at VGH & UBC Hospitals!
Last year's Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K - which took place Sunday, June 26, 2005 - had special meaning for colleagues, former patients, friends and relatives of the late Dr. Patty Clugston. Dr. Clugston, who founded the Breast Cancer Reconstruction Program at UBC Hospital 10 years ago, died March 1, 2005 at the age of forty-six. She was a talented plastic surgeon who dedicated her life to giving renewed hope to women with breast cancer through a procedure that allows women to have breast reconstruction completed as part of their mastectomy. More than 1,000 breast cancer patients have benefited over the past decade.
A group of more than one hundred supporters - "Dr. Patty's Pals" - are participating in the event to help raise funds to endow a Chair in her name. In partnership with Dr. Clugston's husband, Stu Clugston, and her colleagues in Plastic Surgery, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is raising $5 million for the "Dr. Patty Clugston" Chair.
The endowment will provide long term, sustained funding for a Chair, in memory of Dr. Clugston, for the Breast Cancer Reconstruction Program. The Chair will provide leadership for the program, continue to perform breast reconstruction surgery, spearhead research into breast reconstruction and build a Centre of Excellence upon the strong foundation established by Dr. Clugston.
"Patty was my mentor, friend, and colleague in the UBC Breast Reconstruction Program. I can think of no better way to honour her memory than to support the program that she was so passionate about, so that we can continue to provide such a high level of care to the women of British Columbia," said Peter Lennox, Director of Post Graduate Training, Division of Plastic Surgery, UBC; Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, UBC.
Last year's event raised more than $70,000 for the Breast Cancer Reconstruction Program. This year participants can choose to raise funds for this program or for the cause that means the most to them, Your Health – Your Choice. To support this program or for more choices, visit the event website at www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm. For more information about breast reconstruction visit www.vch.ca/breastreconstruction/.
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