Cloverdale Family Donates $1 Million to Support New Cancer Centre

A Cloverdale family has made a significant contribution to cancer care in British Columbia by donating $1 million to the B.C. Cancer Foundation. This donation will support the development of the new B.C. Cancer Centre located in Surrey, specifically in Cloverdale, which is part of a larger hospital project situated south of Highway #10, across from KPU-Cloverdale.

The donation was announced during a reception held in Vancouver on January 22, 2024. According to a press release from the B.C. Cancer Foundation, the funding will “accelerate access to life-saving care, cutting-edge technology, and breakthrough research, ensuring more British Columbians receive timely, best-in-class treatment.”

In a joint statement, donors Shelly Appleton-Benko and Tim Benko expressed their family’s commitment to supporting those in need. “We hope this gift inspires our community to join us in building a future where every patient has access to world-class treatment, close to home,” they stated. Shelly Appleton-Benko has served on the B.C. Cancer Foundation’s board of directors since 2022.

Cancer diagnoses in British Columbia are projected to increase by a third over the next decade, highlighting the urgent need for expanded and innovative care. The new cancer centre in Cloverdale aims to become the most advanced facility of its kind in the province and the second largest overall.

Features of the New Cancer Centre

The B.C. Cancer Centre in Cloverdale will include several important features designed to enhance patient care. Key components will consist of 54 new chemotherapy spaces, which will more than double the current capacity in the Fraser region. Additional advancements will include state-of-the-art imaging laboratories, precision radiation treatment suites, and the province’s first MRI-guided brachytherapy program. The centre will also function as a hub for clinical trials, precision oncology, and theranostics, attracting leading experts and fostering new research discoveries that will benefit patients across British Columbia.

Sylvie Bourque, Executive Medical Director for B.C. Cancer – Surrey, emphasized the importance of community support in realizing these goals. “The new B.C. Cancer Centre in Surrey will serve as a hub of innovation and excellence in care,” Bourque stated. “Support from donors like the Benko family empowers our teams to deliver the best possible care and hope to our patients.”

The B.C. Cancer Foundation aims to raise a total of $30 million to support the development of the cancer centre in Cloverdale, which is slated to open in 2030, coinciding with the opening of the new hospital.

For more information about the upcoming treatment centre in Cloverdale or to make a donation, visit bccancerfoundation.com/surrey.