Supporting cancer patients and their loved ones
Not only does your donation fund progress, but it also provides hope to many in our community facing cancer daily.
Cancer changes everything.
Hearing “you have cancer” is the start of what can be one of the most overwhelming and devastating journeys that anyone can make.
By supporting cancer-related initiatives (both state-of-the-art equipment upgrades and non-medical programs), you help people live better with cancer and improve medical outcomes through better screening, earlier detection and faster diagnosis.
Below are a few of our latest initiatives donors can support.
HELP US RENOVATE BANNON HOUSE
A generous donor recently gifted the Foundation a home near The Moncton Hospital. Aptly named Bannon House in honour of its benefactor, this space will become a unique hub for cancer patients to gather, connect with peers, find strength and attend programs that foster wellness.
To make this dream a reality, the Friends Foundation is raising $1 Million to transform and optimize the space to offer a safe and warm environment for those participating in our programs.
Renovating Bannon House will allow us to take cancer support to the next level. Your donation will make that possible.
We’ve partnered with Wellspring to offer non-medical support programs to help patients and their loved ones navigate life with cancer. These programs focus on the person, not the disease and are at no cost, and open to anyone at any stage of their cancer journey.
Renovations to Bannon House are underway with anticipated completion in late summer 2025. Stay tuned for updates.
**Wellspring has established and continues to develop, a supportive care program designed to meet the mental health, rehabilitative, emotional, and educational needs of people who have cancer, and the related needs of their family members and close caregivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
In our last campaign, we introduced the first stage of Project Cancer Support.
Our community embraced this initiative, and we quickly reached our $1.1 Million goal to get the program off the ground. These funds are being used to cover Wellspring Affiliate fees, launch 4-5 programs starting in early 2025, and support the roles of program staff and facilitators. They also covered consulting costs for re-zoning, architectural drawings, and permits. The remaining funds will ensure we continue offering complimentary services to individuals living with cancer in our community for the next year.
Our goal this year is $1 million to bring Project Cancer Support Phase 2 to the next level with the transformation of a home so that we can offer a safe and warm environment for those participating in our complimentary programs.
We are deeply grateful to a generous donor (Sheila Bannon) who gifted the Friends Foundation a home near The Moncton Hospital, at 166 MacBeath Avenue, which we are naming Bannon House in their honour. Once renovated, this accessible, hope-inspiring home will house several warm, cozy, and private spaces to accommodate the many activities offered for cancer patients and their families every day. Bannon House will provide a safe and positive environment where people living with cancer can experience connection, forge relationships, and acquire vital information and skills for coping with the disease. The City of Moncton approved rezoning of the home in 2024. Building permits to refurbish the home have been issued, and we are hoping to open in fall 2025.
The home needs major commercial-grade renovations including upgrades to plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roof, windows, doors, patio, landscaping, and paving, along with significant interior and exterior reconfigurations. Over 1,000 square feet will be added, bringing the total square footage to 3,567.
In addition to the renovations, the funds will also be used to:
- completely refurbish the home with comfortable furniture
- fully equip a teaching kitchen with modern, safe appliances
- fully equip a gym
- provide therapy offices, meeting area, and office space for staff and volunteers
- provide a resource room with computer access
- purchase a defibrillator, to be placed in a central location within the home
- provide a modern security system to optimize safety
- create eight parking spaces, including accessible parking
- maximize storage space in the basement area
- improve landscaping to include backyard haven and garden space
Friends Foundation is now an affiliate with Wellspring, Canada’s leader in evidence-based Cancer Support Programs. By uniting our organizations to form Wellspring New Brunswick, we will amplify our mission to provide vital services to those living with cancer in Southeast New Brunswick and beyond. Working together with the CHU Dumont Foundation, we also look forward to partnering with other organizations in our community, such as the YMCA, to implement the Cancer Support Project. The program will be 100% funded through the Foundations.
Initial programs will be peer support, relaxation & visualization, and yoga, which are up and running as of March 2025. These programs will take place at the YMCA. Nine Volunteers completed the Peer Support Training program in February.
Peer Support: Talk with a Peer Support volunteer who has lived cancer experience and learn about helpful resources.
Relaxation & Visualization: Take part in this peaceful experience while learning skills to help you cope with your cancer diagnosis.
Yoga: Receive a fulfilling yoga experience while also learning skills and techniques to support self-managed yoga practice outside of Wellspring.
Learn more about our programs at: https://wellspring.ca/newbrunswick/programs/
The anticipated completion of renovations is late summer 2025 with the opening of Bannon House shortly thereafter.
All programs are offered at no cost and without referral to participants and their caregivers.
A full-time director will be on site at Bannon House to manage the program and facilitators who are paid, accredited leaders.
Programs will be determined by the Program Advisory Committee made up of oncologists, nurses, foundation staff and people with lived experience, from both Horizon and Vitalité Health Networks.
Yes, in order to keep Wellspring a complimentary service to individuals living with cancer in our community, we will continue to fundraise for Wellspring New Brunswick through events like NB Ride Against Cancer.
Volunteers are at the heart of Wellspring New Brunswick. Volunteers will provide important support at every level of the organization. Whether they have experienced their own cancer journey, have been a caregiver for someone with cancer, or are someone who has skills to share, Wellspring New Brunswick welcomes and values volunteer contributions.
To volunteer – www.wellspring.ca/newbrunswick/ways-to-give/volunteer/
NB Ride Against Cancer
Funds raised as part of this annual cycling event allow health care providers at The Moncton Hospital and the Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital to deliver complementary non-medical support programs to help people live better with cancer.
Breast Cancer Angel Fund
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among New Brunswick women and is the leading cause of cancer-related death. The Angel Fund supports women with transportation to and from chemotherapy treatments, wigs, prostheses, food coupons and so much more. It offers women with breast cancer the opportunity to live more comfortably, with dignity and improved emotional health. It gives them the financial support needed so they may focus, simply and solely, on fighting cancer.
Choose Katherine Wright Angel Fund Endowment in drop-down box.
The Rebecca Schofield Fund
Helping cancer patients at The Moncton Hospital with some of the smaller yet significant financial challenges they and their families deal with on a daily basis. The things that often get overlooked but can transform a struggle into a smile – is how we want to honour Becca’s legacy.
Support Cancer Care At The Moncton Hospital
As one of Canada’s leading centres for active advanced-stage oncology (cancer) services, your donations make us better and allow us to help more people living with cancer.
