Latest news with #PrincessMargaretCancerFoundation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Raises Over $1.16 Million at Inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer - Canada's Largest Street Cricket Fundraiser
Hundreds united to support life-saving cancer research and create a world free from the fear of cancer MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 31, 2025 /CNW/ - More than 400 cricketers gathered at Celebration Square as The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (The PMCF), presented by TD, hosted the inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer — the largest street cricket fundraiser in Canada. This landmark event signalled a major moment in Canada's evolving sports landscape and serves as a powerful symbol of community, culture, and hope. "This event is about rallying a community, celebrating diversity, and changing the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed and treated," said Dr. Miyo Yamashita, President and CEO, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. "We are grateful to all the participants and supporters who took to the pitch today to raise funds that will improve cancer outcomes and provide brighter tomorrows for patients here in Canada and around the globe." This exciting first-of-its-kind fundraising event united cancer survivors, caregivers, athletes, celebrities and supporters of all backgrounds in one shared mission: to create a world free from the fear of cancer. "I felt powerless when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and when my close friend, Kenroy, passed away from this disease," said Carlos Brathwaite, international cricket star. "I'm proud to bring my passion for cricket to Canada to help launch this event and raise funds for cancer research that can help transform cancer care and treatment everywhere– including my home, Barbados." With 2 in 5 Canadians facing a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, the event was more than just a game—it was a community movement for collective impact. Proceeds will benefit life-saving research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world's leading cancer research and treatment centres. Top fundraising teams had the unique opportunity to draft celebrity players onto their teams through a celebrity draft including notable ambassadors Jully Black, Jamaal Magloire, Dwayne De Rosario and Carlos Brathwaite. These household names joined local teams on the pitch, highlighting the inclusive and celebratory nature of the event. "As a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, cricket was a source of endless joy in my family," said Jully Black, Canadian singer-songwriter and artist. "This cause is deeply personal. Cancer has touched every corner of my life—my father is a proud survivor, sadly my mother and grandmother passed away from the disease, and at 27 years old, I too, faced my own cancer scare. These experiences left a profound impact on me. I jumped at the opportunity to champion a cause that uplifts, educates, and unites communities to bring hope in the face of a cancer diagnosis." Cricket to Conquer Cancer's event included a full day of family-friendly festivities with cricket matches, live musical performances, food trucks, cultural cuisine, and interactive cricket experiences for all ages. While this year's fundraiser has come to a close, The Princess Margaret encourages new and returning participants to register online for next year's Cricket to Conquer Cancer event at ABOUT PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER FOUNDATION The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is Canada's largest cancer charity. We're dedicated to raising funds for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world's leading cancer research and treatment centres, known for its breakthrough discoveries that transform patient outcomes. Together, our work benefits cancer patients everywhere in our mission to create a world free from the fear of cancer. Through philanthropy, fundraising events, and our world-leading lottery program, we're changing how the world understands, prevents, diagnoses, and treats cancer, benefitting patients at The Princess Margaret, throughout Canada, and around the world. SOURCE Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada international Achini Perera takes to the street for Cricket to Conquer Cancer
TORONTO - Achini Perera gets to tick a few boxes Saturday, playing cricket and helping raise money for a good cause. The Canadian international cricketer is taking part in the inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer, a street cricket fundraiser for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. More than 40 teams will be participating at Celebration Square in suburban Mississauga, Ont., with celebrities including singer Jully Black, former soccer star Dwayne De Rosario and former Raptor Jamaal Magloire and West Indies cricketer Carlos Brathwaite. Like many taking part, Brathwaite has a personal connection to the cause. His mother is a cancer survivor. Saturday is also Cricket Day at the Park at the Rogers Centre, where the Toronto Blue Jays host the Athletics. Perera, 24, is looking forward to returning to her roots, playing the game in the street. She and her brother started playing cricket in their basement before taking the game outside. She began at age six, dwarfed in her older brother's equipment. It didn't help that he was a left-hander and she's a rightie. 'But I'd still make it work,' she said. 'It was such a humble moment when I got my own kit when I was 10.' She soon fell in love with the game. 'I like how patient you were, how you had to be strategic during the game. And it taught me a lot about life and patience, for sure,' said Perera, whose father played first-class cricket in Sri Lanka. Perera would go to her brother's games, hoping someone might not show up so she would be allowed to fill in. When she was 12, while playing a game with boys, she was scouted by George Codrington, a former Canadian international who was the national women's coach at the time. She was invited to train with the senior women's side and was an alternate in 2012 when the women went to Ireland to play a World Twenty20 tournament qualifier. Perera made her senior debut against the U.S. in May 2019 when she was 19. It could have come earlier, but the Canadian women's team essentially was on hiatus from 2012 to 2018 after losing international status. Perera kept playing at home with boys and made her national team debut when the program returned to action. An accomplished opening batsman, the Canada vice-captain has transitioned from a medium-pace bowler to an off-spinner. Perera played a variety of sports, including basketball, badminton and volleyball, while attending Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, Ont. She also did track and field, excelling in the javelin. 'I found it quite easy because you're throwing a lot in cricket,' she said, noting that a 600-gram javelin (the minimum weight for women's competition) seems light in comparison. Growing up, Perera spent time playing cricket in England, Sri Lanka, the U.S. and the West Indies. Perera and Canada finished runner-up to the U.S. in Buenos Aires in March at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier, missing out on the chance to advance to the final stage of T20 World Cup qualifying. The U.S. defeated Canada by 78 runs to win the four-team Americas tournament with Perera the only Canadian to reach double figures with the bat, with 19 runs off 28 balls. Both teams were 4-1-0 going into the deciding match with the U.S. atop the standings by virtue of a superior run rate. Canada had defeated the Americans by nine runs in their first game at the qualifier. Perera saw positives despite not moving on. 'You learn something with every tour,' Perera said. 'How you can improve as a unit … Being sad about it for the next two years is not the goal. The goal is to actually get better.' Unlike the Canadian men, the women's team is not under contract to Cricket Canada. Perera said the women sometimes get paid at a tournament, but usually not. 'We do love playing the game but we have other jobs too,' said Perera, who works as a timekeeper for Greater Toronto Hockey League and other leagues. 'We would love a contract but we don't mind it because our passion comes first.' Outside the cricket pitch, Perera was featured in an Estee Lauder ad in 2021. With cricket coming to the Olympics in 2028, the T20 version of the sport will get a huge platform in Los Angeles. But Canada will be watching from the sidelines with only six men's and six women's teams taking part. 'We're a little bit far off, to be completely honest with you,' said Perera. 'But regardless, seeing cricket being introduced in the Olympics honestly makes me feel so humble. I'm glad and I'm more than happy to watch their countries. 'And if we do have that chance (in the future), I know the girls are actually ready to take that step forward.' Canada is currently ranked 31st by the International Cricket Council (ICC) among women's Twenty20 International (T20I) countries with the U.S. No. 24. Cricket to Conquer Cancer and Cricket Day at the Park are sponsored by TD. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada international Achini Perera takes to the street for Cricket to Conquer Cancer
TORONTO – Achini Perera gets to tick a few boxes Saturday, playing cricket and helping raise money for a good cause. The Canadian international cricketer is taking part in the inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer, a street cricket fundraiser for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. More than 40 teams will be participating at Celebration Square in suburban Mississauga, Ont., with celebrities including singer Jully Black, former soccer star Dwayne De Rosario and former Raptor Jamaal Magloire and West Indies cricketer Carlos Brathwaite. Like many taking part, Brathwaite has a personal connection to the cause. His mother is a cancer survivor. Saturday is also Cricket Day at the Park at the Rogers Centre, where the Toronto Blue Jays host the Athletics. Perera, 24, is looking forward to returning to her roots, playing the game in the street. She and her brother started playing cricket in their basement before taking the game outside. She began at age six, dwarfed in her older brother's equipment. It didn't help that he was a left-hander and she's a rightie. 'But I'd still make it work,' she said. 'It was such a humble moment when I got my own kit when I was 10.' She soon fell in love with the game. 'I like how patient you were, how you had to be strategic during the game. And it taught me a lot about life and patience, for sure,' said Perera, whose father played first-class cricket in Sri Lanka. Perera would go to her brother's games, hoping someone might not show up so she would be allowed to fill in. When she was 12, while playing a game with boys, she was scouted by George Codrington, a former Canadian international who was the national women's coach at the time. She was invited to train with the senior women's side and was an alternate in 2012 when the women went to Ireland to play a World Twenty20 tournament qualifier. Perera made her senior debut against the U.S. in May 2019 when she was 19. It could have come earlier, but the Canadian women's team essentially was on hiatus from 2012 to 2018 after losing international status. Perera kept playing at home with boys and made her national team debut when the program returned to action. An accomplished opening batsman, the Canada vice-captain has transitioned from a medium-pace bowler to an off-spinner. Perera played a variety of sports, including basketball, badminton and volleyball, while attending Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, Ont. She also did track and field, excelling in the javelin. 'I found it quite easy because you're throwing a lot in cricket,' she said, noting that a 600-gram javelin (the minimum weight for women's competition) seems light in comparison. Growing up, Perera spent time playing cricket in England, Sri Lanka, the U.S. and the West Indies. Perera and Canada finished runner-up to the U.S. in Buenos Aires in March at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier, missing out on the chance to advance to the final stage of T20 World Cup qualifying. The U.S. defeated Canada by 78 runs to win the four-team Americas tournament with Perera the only Canadian to reach double figures with the bat, with 19 runs off 28 balls. Both teams were 4-1-0 going into the deciding match with the U.S. atop the standings by virtue of a superior run rate. Canada had defeated the Americans by nine runs in their first game at the qualifier. Perera saw positives despite not moving on. 'You learn something with every tour,' Perera said. 'How you can improve as a unit … Being sad about it for the next two years is not the goal. The goal is to actually get better.' Unlike the Canadian men, the women's team is not under contract to Cricket Canada. Perera said the women sometimes get paid at a tournament, but usually not. 'We do love playing the game but we have other jobs too,' said Perera, who works as a timekeeper for Greater Toronto Hockey League and other leagues. 'We would love a contract but we don't mind it because our passion comes first.' Outside the cricket pitch, Perera was featured in an Estee Lauder ad in 2021. With cricket coming to the Olympics in 2028, the T20 version of the sport will get a huge platform in Los Angeles. But Canada will be watching from the sidelines with only six men's and six women's teams taking part. 'We're a little bit far off, to be completely honest with you,' said Perera. 'But regardless, seeing cricket being introduced in the Olympics honestly makes me feel so humble. I'm glad and I'm more than happy to watch their countries. 'And if we do have that chance (in the future), I know the girls are actually ready to take that step forward.' Canada is currently ranked 31st by the International Cricket Council (ICC) among women's Twenty20 International (T20I) countries with the U.S. No. 24. Cricket to Conquer Cancer and Cricket Day at the Park are sponsored by TD. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025
Toronto Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Marathon, other events to run toward this weekend across GTA
The Toronto Marathon awaits this weekend on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Photo by Toronto Marathon / Facebook It's the first weekend of May and what better way to celebrate than by heading to the city and enjoying everything it has to offer? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The weather might not be completely co-operative, but rain or shine you're bound to have a good time. Or simply want some good grub? Eating will undoubtedly be on the agenda. Here's what you need to know to make the necessary plans. Toronto Marathon Whether it's a marathon, half-marathon, half-marathon walk, 10-km or 5-km run or walk, the ultimate goal is surpassing $1 million in donations, with the races benefiting many local charities including the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, SickKids Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Free the Children and many more, so be proud of your accomplishment. All of the races are on Sunday, with the marathon starting at 7:30 a.m. and half-marathons at 8:30 a.m. at Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave., while the 10-km run begins at 7:30 a.m. and 5-km run/walk at 7:50 a.m. at the Queen Elizabeth Building. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For the extensive list of road closures, click here. To register or for more information, click here. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Enjoy live music while shopping Toronto's favourite luxe shops and locally owned small businesses at the perfect one-stop market, just in time to celebrate the moms and special women in your life ahead of Mother's Day. It's dog friendly, too! Head to Kimpton Saint George at 280 Bloor St. W. on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, click here. Mama's Day Market Spread the love and celebrate moms with artisans and crafters, food and treats, kids' activities and live entertainment, while shopping local bakers, makers, artists and small businesses, all proudly Canadian, whether you're shopping for the perfect gift or treating yourself. Head to Georgetown Marketplace in Georgetown on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, click here. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Allerjam This one-of-a-kind event brings together kids and families for a fun-filled afternoon featuring a dance party and celebrity guests without the stress of food allergies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Celebrate in a safe, inclusive space at New Age Experience Centre at 1190 Caledonia Rd. on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, click here. Lucha Libre Turn up the heat ahead of Cinco de Mayo with an unforgettable fiesta of food, dance, and entertainment including a taco pop-up, margarita lounge, salsa dancing, and even a wrestling match. Join the fun at The Well on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, click here. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Celebrate spring with freshly harvested maple syrup and other maple-themed treats while browsing unique items from craft and food vendors as well as independent shops and restaurants. Shop, dine and discover all the greatness of historic downtown Bowmanville on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, click here. TeaFest Join fun workshops, watch demonstrations and learn about the rich and diverse history and culture of tea, while perusing local vendors and connecting with fellow tea lovers. Celebrate all things tea, whether you're a curious beginner, casual sipper or an aficionado. Drink it all in at Sherwood Community Centre at 6355 Main St. W. in Milton on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, click here. Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Take in curated exhibitions and public art from an international collection of artists presented in partnership with galleries and event spaces across the city as parts of Toronto itself will become part of the exhibits. The festival is on throughout May. For of all the venues and more information, click here. Cirque du Soleil's OVO at The Pavilion Come one, come all and check out an incredible show at the first-of-its-kind pop-up venue in Canada, an impressive free-standing hybrid structure of the Big Top experience and world-class arena atmosphere, Expect show-stopping acrobatics as OVO explores the beauty of biodiversity in all of its contrasts and vibrancy with new acts, characters and music, set to dazzle fans of all ages. Cirque du Soleil's 25th production runs until June 28. For tickets and more information, click here. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons NHL Toronto & GTA NFL
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sangita Patel reflects on having an 'ugly cry' after being diagnosed with cancer: 'I've never had a breakdown'
Sangita Patel is reflecting on her journey with a rare form of thyroid cancer. In a interview released in March for "Carry The Fire," a podcast from the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation hosted by Canadian journalist Lisa LaFlamme, Patel opened up about receiving her diagnosis at the peak of her professional life. The Toronto-born TV host was told she had encapsulated angioinvasive oncoytic carcinoma in 2023. Although she's now cancer-free, she said she's only now begun healing emotionally from the life-changing diagnosis, surgeries and treatment. This April is Cancer Awareness Month, otherwise known as Daffodil Month. In honour of the special month, here's everything we learned about Patel's recent conversation with LaFlamme. Patel is a strong person, both physically and mentally. The former ET Canada host has cultivated an online presence filled with fitness, healthy recipes and positivity. This article was first published in March 2025. However, when LaFlamme asked the 46-year-old mother of two about her biggest takeaway from cancer, Patel had a surprising answer. "That I'm allowed to be weak," Patel said, adding that for her, weakness looks like "vulnerability." Despite the lesson, Patel added she's still learning how to put it into practice. Patel was understandably nervous when the lump on her throat was biopsied and when she underwent surgery to have one side of her thyroid removed. However, following the surgery, Patel's pathology report revealed she had encapsulated angioinvasive oncoytic carcinoma, also known as Hürthle cell carcinoma. It's a form of thyroid cancer that can be more aggressive and potentially spread to the lungs or bones. Patel said she understood the pathology report was serious because her husband, a radiologist named Samir, was quiet when reading the results. "It's bullshit. I was just like, 'I can't believe this is happening,'" Patel said. "I thought I've done my part. I'm healing. Life is good. I've done what I had to do ... and I'm like, 'What's wrong with me? What is happening right now?'" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sangita Patel (@ Patel and her family decided to retreat to Barbados following the official diagnosis. Although the trip was supposed to be restorative, she said she experienced a new emotional low point. "I've never had a breakdown in my 45 years. I don't even know what happened. Something my daughter said. And we were at dinner, and I went back to our hotel room and I had the ugly cry," she said. "I don't remember the last time I ever had an ugly cry like that. And my husband was there, and I'm thinking about death, and I'm thinking about everything, just things I would never think about. I finally said, 'Holy shit, I could die.'" Patel said her husband admitted he had a similar breakdown after learning of her cancer and said she was going to do more to see how Samir's feeling even now that she's cancer-free. Patel's surgeon, Dr. Jesse Pasternak of University Health Network in Toronto, removed the rest of her thyroid. For both surgeries, Pasternak used a cutting edge method called TOETVA (transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy-vestibular approach). TOETVA involves making incisions inside the mouth to access the thyroid, instead of accessing the gland through the neck, meaning there's no visible scarring. Pasternak is the only surgeon in Canada using the method, and although the surgery was successful, he ordered more treatment to help prevent future cancer recurrences. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sangita Patel (@ "Radioactive iodine is an iodine pill that you take that has, instead of the regular iodine that we eat in our iodine salt, it's got a radioactive particle attached to it," he explained to LaFlamme. "Interestingly, only thyroid cells in the body use iodine, and so the iodine only goes to the thyroid cells, and then it basically explodes once it gets to those thyroid cells and kills the thyroid cell with it." While Patel is on the mend emotionally, she now focusing on new projects. That includes establishing a wellness brand, which she compared to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. "Building my brand is what my goal is for the next few years, and I take it step by step. If there's one thing I do is I definitely stay on my own journey," she said. "I don't look to the left. I don't look to the right. I stay on my journey. "I don't even know how I got here, but it's partly because I stayed on my journey. And that's my next step, is to actually explode internationally, to be in that space, knowing there's a whole world out there."
