THE CancerCare Manitoba Foundation is halting the Weekend to End Breast Cancer -- one of its largest annual fundraisers that garners about a third of all donations that fund cancer research, equipment and programs.
CancerCare officials said the decision to stop holding the three-day, 60-kilometre walk across Winnipeg came after reviewing feedback, the cost of organizing the event and the delay in being able to use the money to improve breast cancer treatment and care.
Dr. Dhali Dhaliwal, CEO of CancerCare Manitoba, said the goal is to not overwhelm the community and staff with such a huge event, and focus on other projects to raise money for various cancers.
"It is a big logistical operation and it saps a lot of energy," he said Thursday. "We want to conserve that energy and enthusiasm."
More than 2,500 women, men and their families participated in the event in 2006 and 2007. Every person who participated in the event had to raise a minimum of $2,000.
In two years, the event raised $5.7 million. However, 43 per cent of the event's total went toward things like administration, food and shelter for participants.
On average, the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation raises $6 million a year toward various research projects and cancer programs. Each year the foundation organizes 300 fundraisers -- half of which go toward breast cancer.
Dhaliwal said part of the problem was that CancerCare couldn't use all of the money toward improving breast cancer treatment since there is a shortage of oncologists and technologists.
He could not confirm how much of the Weekend to End Breast Cancer fundraising total is left over, but said a portion of the funds has been used to purchase mobile breast screening units and fund various research projects.
"We have got a lot of projects going and we want to not overtax the community," he said, noting it was tough for many people to train for the long walk and raise the $2,000 to participate.
"The need is there, we haven't conquered breast cancer, but we want to spend the money wisely in a timely manner and not raise funds that are not easily and accountably spent."
jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca
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