Skip to content

Thrifty Foods brings boost to Island cancer treatment

B.C. Cancer Foundation expects to have Victoria’s new PET/CT scanner in place by fall 2018
9316865_web1_Thrifty
Thrifty Foods Cloverdale store manager Daryl Fediw presents a $10,459 cheque to Cynthia Durand-Smith and Anna-Lise ter Mors of the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The money will go towards the purchase of a PET/CT scanner for Vancouver Island. Dan Ebenal/News Staff

Thrifty Foods shoppers have done their part to provide a clearer picture for Vancouver Island cancer patients.

The B.C. Cancer Foundation recently received a $10,459 boost from Thrifty Foods for its campaign to bring a PET/CT scanner to Vancouver Island.

“For every rising-crust pizza sold from our deli [in October], 50 cents was donated to the B.C. Cancer Foundation,” said Daryl Fediw, Cloverdale Thriftys store manager. “We also gave customers the opportunity to donate their bag refund or make a donation at the till.”

In honour of its 40th anniversary celebrations, all 26 Thrifty Foods locations have been raising funds for a variety of causes each month throughout the year.

“Our customers are always very happy for any chance to give back through a purchase to benefit the community,” said Fediw.

Thrifty’s support has gone a long way in bringing a much-needed piece of medical equipment to Vancouver Island

“B.C. Cancer Foundation launched a campaign last year to bring a PET/CT scanner here to Victoria for Vancouver Island residents,” said the foundation’s development officer Cynthia Durand-Smith.

That campaign kicked off at the annual Jingle Mingle gala, getting a huge boost from a $1 million donation from Thrifty Foods.

The PET/CT scanner “is the most important diagnostic tool for a cancer patient,” said Durand-Smith. “Last year almost 1,500 Vancouver Island residents had to leave the Island for a PET scan.”

But thanks to donations from individuals and organizations like Thriftys, the campaign is quickly approaching its $5 million goal.

“We’ve had such a resounding success to our fundraising over the past few months we haven’t even been able to count all of our pennies yet, but we’re getting very close to the $5 million,” said Durand-Smith. “We expect to have it in place and operating by the fall of 2018.”



Dan Ebenal

About the Author: Dan Ebenal

Throughout my career, I've taken on roles as a reporter and editor in more than a dozen newsrooms across the province.
Read more