Stephen Blais donating raise to help find cure for breast cancer. Trustee Blais’ $5,000 donation is being partially matched by Scotiabank, bringing the total value of the donation to $7,500.

Orléans-Cumberland Catholic School Board Trustee Stephen Blais announced that he has donated his Trustee raise to the 2009 Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefitting the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

“I believe in fiscal responsibility and during the last election campaign, I made a clear promise to give back to the community by donating the 150% raise trustees received,” says Trustee Blais. “As an elected official, I believe it is incumbent upon me and my colleagues to help raise awareness of issues that affect our community and residents.”

Trustee Blais’ $5,000 donation will be evenly divided between two groups of women who have and continue to march in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation: a group from Orléans and a group from Ottawa, which includes team member Linda Eagen, the Executive Director of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

“Breast cancer touches so many Canadians and with the unselfish support of individuals like Stephen Blais, we are confident that we will create a future without breast cancer,” says Ms. Eagan.

“Stephen Blais’ community spirit and donation to this worthy cause will assist women in our community in our march to end breast cancer,” says Debbie Chaudhari, a member of the Orléans team.

“I am very humbled that my donation will contribute to funding such important cancer research. I am hopeful that the Weekend to End Breast Cancer will continue to grow and that every dollar raised helps protect our mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces and sisters and wives from being stricken by this horrible disease,“ added Blais.

During one amazing weekend, thousands of women and men to walk, fighting all women's cancers, step by step. Walkers participate in an unforgettable 2-day, 60km walk.

The 2009 Weekend to End Breast Cancer takes place June 6 and 7. For more information on how to participate or to make a donation visit www.endcancer.ca

All of the proceeds from The Weekend to End Breast Cancer will benefit the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

Their researchers are investigating better ways to treat breast cancer, including targeted treatments that minimize the negative side effects while still effectively combating a patient’s cancer.

National Breast Cancer Statistics:

• One in three area residents will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• One in 9 Canadian women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
• Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian women.
• On average, 407 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week.
• On average, 102 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week.
• One in 27 Canadian women will die of breast cancer.

*Source: National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2004

Local Statistics:

• One in three area residents will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• Over 5,000 new patients were referred to The Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre in 2003.
• Over 650 patients use the services of The Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre each day.
• Between 250-290 patients are seen every day for radiation treatment.
• Between 90-120 patients receive chemotherapy each day.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death in women between 35-55.

For more information about the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation please visit www.orccfoundation.ca.

In his first year of elected office, Orléans-Cumberland Catholic School Board Trustee Stephen Blais established of a yearly bursary to be awarded to a graduating student, in financial need, from St. Peter or St. Matthew High Schools in Orléans. The $5,000 donation to Carleton University was matched dollar for dollar by the provincial government through the Ontario Trust for Student Support for a total value of $10,000. The yearly bursary will continue annually in perpetuity due to the earned interest on the donation.