Read about supporters like you who are fuelling life-saving cancer research as part of their personal legacy.
Jane Adams
“When it comes down to it, The Princess Margaret saved my life.”
In 2017, Jane Adams made a startling discovery: a lump the size of a clementine under her arm. Alarmed, she visited a same-day care clinic where she was immediately referred to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre (GRDC) for a biopsy. By the next day, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
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Jane anticipated surgery, but instead, her treatment began with six rounds, plus an additional round of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following this, she underwent surgery and then began radiation therapy.
Despite the challenges, Jane chose to continue working, finding focus and support among her colleagues, who were also some of her closest friends. Gradually, her life returned to a semblance of normalcy, although she remained on monthly treatments.
In 2023, Jane started experiencing abnormal headaches, which she initially attributed to stress from dealing with the loss of a loved one.
“I assumed it was stress-related, like I was taking on more than I could handle,” she said.
However, these headaches were caused by six tumours found in her brain – her breast cancer had metastasized. The largest tumour was surgically removed, and the remaining tumours were treated with radiation.
“When it comes down to it, Princess Margaret saved my life,” Jane said.
In gratitude, she has included a gift to The Princess Margaret in her Will, benefiting breast cancer and neuro-oncology research.
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is profoundly grateful to donors like Jane, whose legacy gift will advance the future of cancer care and research.
Pat and Gerald Sheehan
“The Princess Margaret researchers are at the forefront of cancer research, and if anyone is going to find a breakthrough, they’ll be the ones to do it.”
Pat and Gerry Sheehan always described their son Dan as having “the world by the tail.” Then, one week before his 29th birthday, Dan felt a strange sensation down the right side of his body. He went to the emergency room, where a CAT scan and an MRI revealed a devastating diagnosis: an inoperable brain tumour.
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Dan began radiation and chemotherapy at The Princess Margaret under the care of Dr. Warren Mason. Fortunately, Dan didn’t experience too much difficulty or discomfort. The tumour went into remission, and he went on with his life.
Sadly, one year later, a routine MRI revealed the tumour had come back. Despite courses of treatment with two new drugs, it continued to grow. Early in the morning of July 13, 2005, Dan died peacefully at home with his beloved wife, Heather, by his side. He was just 33 years old.
Since Dan’s passing, the Sheehans have been determined to support Dr. Mason and his research team’s work, raising an impressive $265,000 so far. “We know that research is all that’s going to get us anywhere with this. We’re not super wealthy, but we’re going to do what we can to help,” said Pat.
The Sheehans are also leaving a legacy gift in Dan’s honour, making them proud members of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation’s J.C.B. Grant Society, which honours special donors committed to carrying the fire for cancer patients as part of their legacy.
“We just want Dan to be remembered, and this is one way to do it,” said Pat. “It comforts us to think that we may be having some small part in sparing other patients and families the pain that we and Dan went through,” said Gerry.
Sharon Mohip
“I know my gift will make an impact on a global level.”
In 2017, Sharon Mohip’s mother, Parbattee, was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer and became a patient at The Princess Margaret. Sharon had been a longtime participant in the Weekend to Conquer Cancer event (now The PMCF Walk), and her reasons for fundraising have now hit home. Sadly, Parbattee passed away in 2019, but Sharon is continuing her quest to help other cancer patients and their loved ones with a gift in her Will to honour her mother.
Cindy Breslin-Carere and George Carere
“We’ve seen what cancer can do. And while we can’t go back, we can look ahead. We can help ensure that future generations don’t have to experience what we did.”
Cindy Breslin-Carere and George Carere have faced cancer up close more than once. They’ve felt the helplessness and heartbreak, as well as the hope that comes with every treatment and breakthrough. And through it all, they’ve found a way to channel their experience into something powerful: a lasting legacy at The Princess Margaret.
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Their latest experience occurred three years ago, when Cindy’s brother Perry was diagnosed with esophageal and stomach cancer. It was a year filled with highs and lows but also marked by compassionate care. This experience left an indelible impression and shaped the Breslin-Careres’ decision to include a gift in their Will to support cancer research at The Princess Margaret.
As longtime donors and proud members of the J.C.B. Grant Society, they’ve made it their mission to give back in meaningful ways — through gifts during their lifetime and by leaving a legacy that will carry their values forward.
“Seeing as we don’t have children to carry on our names”, said Cindy, “it’s moving to know that our names will live on at The Princess Margaret. Whether you give your time or money, nothing feels as good as giving.”
“The unexpected bonus is that new doors open; our lives are suddenly enriched with different people, enlightening events, and stimulating conversations. Our gift continues to give.”
Their legacy gift is also a testament to the power of hope — and the belief that the future can look different. George was especially moved by a recent presentation from Dr. Jesse Pasternak, whose work in thyroid cancer illustrated how far cancer treatments have come since George’s own diagnosis many years earlier.
“If his technique had been around back then, maybe my journey would have looked very different,” George reflects. “But knowing our gift will help fuel the next breakthrough – that’s everything.”
Margaret Lynch
“I know firsthand that supporting The Princess Margaret will further cancer research and get us closer to a world free from the fear of cancer.”
30 years ago, Margaret Lynch received an experimental bone marrow transplant, a first in Canada, at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Today, she is healthy and thriving, dedicated to giving back to the place that saved her life.
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Margaret’s involvement with The Princess Margaret runs deep. She’s cycled more than 200km to raise funds for cancer research nine times. She also worked for the Foundation, supporting its fundraising efforts and has left a gift in her Will.
“I know firsthand that supporting The Princess Margaret will further cancer research and get us closer to a world without cancer,” says Margaret, who was only 30 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of acute leukemia in January 1988.
After a combination of chemotherapy and other drugs proved unsuccessful, Margaret was left with few options.
The Princess Margaret was only performing transplants for patients in remission at the time, but Dr. Hans Messner, who pioneered stem cell transplantation at The Princess Margaret, agreed to try the procedure. It was the first time this would ever be done at The Princess Margaret and in the country. With her sister as her donor, Margaret received her transplant later that year, in May.
18 days later, she walked out of the isolation room with no traces of cancer left in her body. She didn’t share her story until two decades later, when she took part in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2008. When she reached the finish line, Dr. Messner was there, waiting for her with a big smile on his face.
“It was just an incredible moment to think that 20 years earlier, we were in my hospital room. There’s no way we could have imagined this.”
Dr. Messner passed away in July 2018 from bladder cancer, and Margaret helped to honour him with a tribute at the 2019 Ride.
Margaret is now writing her memoir to share her story with a wider audience. “I have no idea why I’m still alive, but the least I can do is try to help other people in the same situation. I want to give back and share my story so other people can feel hope.”
Joan Hosang
“A legacy gift is a thoughtful way to support research… It’s one way of giving back to society.”
After Joan’s sister Pamela passed away from ovarian cancer, Joan decided to honour Pamela’s memory by leaving a gift in her Will to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Joan was at her sister’s side while she was in Princess Margaret, and she and her family appreciated the compassionate care Pamela received. She hopes her gift will help find a way to detect ovarian cancer – known as the “silent killer” – at an earlier stage, when it is more treatable.
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Joan, along with her sister Marilyn, is a committed donor. She met with the Estates and Gift Planning team at The Princess Margaret to create her legacy gift. It was a simple process, she says. “A legacy gift is a thoughtful way to support research so that one day we can Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime. It’s one way of giving back to society.” Joan also appreciates that leaving a gift to charity can offer significant tax benefits that can reduce or possibly eliminate the tax owing on your estate. “I want to have everything in order so 100 percent of my assets will go to charity,” she says.
Marilyn is equally committed. “As research continues at The Princess Margaret, there is a human life that will always benefit from the donations received,” Marilyn says.
Florence Gibbons
“There’s not one of us that isn’t affected by cancer. Whether your donation is small or large, it’s appreciated, and so well spent.”
Florence Gibbons was only at The Princess Margaret for one day and one night, but it was a time she will remember forever. Sitting in Palliative Care at the bedside of her partner of 47 years, Florence remembers the experience like it was yesterday. “The caring, gentle, and kind staff made Barbara so comfortable,” recalls Florence. “Barbara couldn’t have asked for any better treatment in her last hours, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better for her. I will always thank The Princess Margaret for her peaceful passing.”
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To honour Barbara’s life and give hope to those battling cancer today, Florence donates monthly to The Princess Margaret. She has also left a gift in her Will. “It was very simple to do,” says Florence, who hopes her legacy gift will help advance research to find a cure. “I think The Princess Margaret is the foremost hospital for cancer research. There’s a feeling of caring and wanting to find a cure. I believe cancer will be conquered…eventually, with the help of donor support.”
Asked what she would tell others considering a gift in their Will, Florence responds without hesitation, “Do it. Give. There’s not one of us who isn’t affected by cancer. Whether your donation is small or large, it’s appreciated, and so well spent.”
Paul Gauthier
“Paul really believed in causes that were about providing compassionate care, and his gift to The Princess Margaret is a testament to his values.”
Paul was a man who took the best that life had to offer and gave his best back to everyone around him. He loved working with others and was an avid traveller, cherishing his long career as a flight attendant, which allowed him to meet new people and travel around the world.
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Paul’s appetite for life charmed everyone he met, including the staff at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in his 50s, he would make regular trips there over the next thirty years of his life. “He just loved the people he interacted with there – the volunteers, the nurses, his doctors,” recalled Daniel Kushner, Paul’s longtime friend and neighbour.
Paul was incredibly grateful for the warm care he received at The Princess Margaret, and while undergoing treatment, volunteered for every new clinical trial offered to him. But his desire to help the doctors who helped him through his recovery extended beyond clinical trials and his yearly donations.
When Paul eventually passed away from causes unrelated to cancer at age 82, he also left a gift in his Will to The Princess Margaret. “Paul was a very principled person,” said Daniel, who was also the Executor of Paul’s Will. “He wanted to see his principles live on. Paul really believed in causes that were about providing compassionate care, and his gift to The Princess Margaret is a testament to his values.”
Paul’s legacy of generosity and community will continue to live on through his gift, which will support prostate cancer research. Not only will it help researchers at The Princess Margaret think big and develop the next cancer breakthrough, but it will also help future generations live in a world free from the fear of cancer, ensuring they can live their lives to the fullest — just like Paul.
