“We are obviously in the preparation stages. We are looking at what other cities have had to raise money for,” said RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman. “We have been asked by a few donors who are holding their money, saying, ‘Do you need money for radiation?’ We know we are getting an MRI, a CT simulator and three linear accelerators in there, which is just fantastic. Will we be asked to pay for equipment? We’re undecided.”
While uncertainty around specifics remains, Roth that a local campaign from the BC Cancer Foundation should be coming down the pipeline in the near future.
“We look forward to engaging the Kamloops community and fundraising for the new BC Cancer Kamloops to ensure we have the most state of the art equipment… as well as clinical trials will come here which advances treatment. It is very exciting,” said Roth.
With work beginning behind the scenes at the new cancer care clinic, Coleman is working to tackle other issues currently affecting health care locally, such as attracting and retaining health care workers.
“We do need more supportive care here at RIH. We need more social workers, drug navigators. We also need more oncologists. I spoke with the BC Cancer Agency and I said we need to lure people to Kamloops and of course we are competing with Ontario where oncologists are getting paid more than in BC,” said Coleman.
Before a local campaign kicks off, the BC Cancer Foundation is working on its biggest fundraising initiative in history, hoping to raise $500 million province-wide.
“Research is the key to driving that innovation, to ensure the most precise cancer treatment. BC Cancer Foundation, we have donors all over the province and their funding helps all British Columbians with research. Then when we have a local project like the new BC Cancer Kamloops we look forward to rallying the community to support to ensure that the local cancer center has the most state of the art technology,” added Roth.
The first patients are scheduled to be treated at the new cancer center in Kamloops in 2027.