A Cloverdale family has donated $1 million to the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
The money is to be used to support the new B.C. Cancer Centre in Surrey — the one being built in Cloverdale as part of the new hospital going in south of Highway #10, across from KPU-Cloverdale.
The Benko family gifted the money in a reception held in Vancouver Jan. 22
According to a press release about the donation, the B.C. Cancer Foundation noted the money “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, Shelly Appleton-Benko and Tim Benko said their family was “deeply committed” to helping families 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,” the pair added.
Appleton-Benko has been a part of the B.C. Cancer foundation’s board of directors since 2022.
According to the release, the foundation noted that cancer diagnoses are projected to rise by a third over the next 10 years.
“The need for expanded, innovative care has never been greater.”
The new cancer centre in Cloverdale will be the most advanced one in B.C. and the second largest.
Some key features of the new centre include: 54 new chemotherapy spaces, more than doubling current capacity in the Fraser region; advanced imaging labs, precision radiation treatment suites and the province’s first MRI-guided brachytherapy program; and it will serve as a hub for clinical trials, precision oncology and theranostics, attracting top experts and fuelling new discoveries that will benefit patients throughout B.C.
“The new B.C. Cancer centre in Surrey will serve as a hub of innovation and excellence in care,” said Sylvie Bourque, executive medical director for B.C. Cancer – Surrey. “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 is fundraising $30 million to support the cancer centre in Cloverdale. It is set to open when the hospital opens in 2030.
To learn more about the new treatment centre in Cloverdale, or to donate, visit bccancerfoundation.com/surrey.
