Nearly one in two Canadians is expected to be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime.
Most people understand the importance of treatment. What often goes unseen is everything else cancer changes: the employee balancing caregiving with work, the parent navigating appointments and financial pressures, the survivor living with the lasting effects of treatment and the family adjusting to a reality they never expected.
Cancer doesn’t stop at the hospital door.
Impact that extends beyond treatment
For many people, the physical effects of cancer are only part of the challenge. Emotional distress, financial strain, family pressures and the complexity of navigating care can continue long after treatment ends.
This is where supportive cancer care becomes critical.
As the region’s only community cancer hub, The Ottawa Cancer Foundation provides free support to people living with cancer, caregivers and family members through Cancer System Navigators, cancer-focused counselling, peer support, exercise and wellness programs, and connections to community resources.
“Medical treatment is only one part of the cancer experience,” says Deborah Lehmann, president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation. “People also need trusted guidance, emotional support and a community that understands what they are going through.”
Life-changing support when it’s needed most
For Jay, who was diagnosed at the beginning of the pandemic, that support was life-changing.
“When I was diagnosed with cancer, I felt terrified, confused and completely alone,” says Jay. “The physical treatments and surgeries were difficult, but the mental toll, the anxiety, fear of recurrence and uncertainty about what came next was often the hardest part. Through The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, I found mental-health support, peer connection and programs that gave me the tools to steady myself and move forward. Cancer changed me forever, but the foundation helped me find hope, strength and a renewed sense of purpose.”
Demand for supportive cancer care continues to grow, and all foundation services are funded through philanthropy.
Why Aurora Ball matters
On Nov. 21 the Aurora Ball returns to The Westin Ottawa, bringing together approximately 500 business and community leaders for an evening to support local cancer care.
Funds raised will help reduce wait times for Cancer System Navigators; address barriers created by distance, transportation and isolation; and expand access to cancer-focused mental-health counselling.
An investment in Ottawa families
Aurora Ball is an opportunity for Ottawa’s business community to help build a stronger support system for local families facing cancer.
Organizations can participate by hosting clients, colleagues or employees at a table; becoming an event sponsor; contributing to the auction or making a philanthropic gift through the Fund-A-Need live auction. During the evening, guests will hear directly about urgent areas of need and the impact their support can make.
Corporate participation also sends a powerful message. That’s because cancer touches every workplace: Every organization has employees navigating a diagnosis, supporting a loved one through treatment or helping a family member cope with the lasting effects of cancer. Supporting accessible cancer care demonstrates that the well-being of people and families matters.
An unforgettable evening to support long-term local impact
Aurora Ball promises an unforgettable evening of alpine elegance, après-ski glamour and disco after dark. But while guests may be transported to the glamour of St. Moritz or Studio 54 for a night, the impact will remain firmly rooted in Ottawa.
Every ticket, table, sponsorship and donation helps ensure that when cancer turns a family’s world upside down, they have somewhere to turn for guidance, connection and support.
Because behind every diagnosis is a family. And behind every family is a community.
To learn more, explore sponsorship opportunities or reserve your place, visit ottawacancer.ca/auroraball.
