Two in a Million tells the story of Irish student Ben Murnane’s battle with Fanconi anaemia, from his diagnosis at age nine to his bone marrow transplant nearly eight years later, and beyond. At sixteen, Ben became the first person in Ireland to have a transplant involving the immunosuppressant fludarabine. During three months in hospital, along with unending diarrhea and constant pain, he suffered a psychotic episode which made him unable to recognise his doctors, his parents… And, before the transplant even began, he had to tell the girl he loved that he only had a fifty percent chance of survival. Ben Murnane’s book is now available for worldwide delivery on Ben’s website. All copies ordered from Ben’s website are personally signed.

$135,000 Awarded to Laval University Researcher

On May 16th, the Cdn Institutes of Health Research/Fanconi Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship in FA Research was awarded to Julien Vignard of Laval University in Quebec City for his project studying the role of FA proteins in DNA double-stranded break repair. Dr. Vignard will be working under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Yves Masson and is the second such Fellowship held by a member of his laboratory. This three year fellowship has a value of $135,000 which will be funded equally by CIHR and Fanconi Canada.

 

2008 Toronto Fundraiser Raises Over $83,000

Our 8th annual Greater Toronto Area Fundraiser for Fanconi Canada was held April 27th - a dinner and silent auction for which we sold 500 tickets and had 400 guests in actual attendance. Our preliminary figures suggest we raised over $83,000 for FA research in Canada. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this major annual fundraising event.

 

THANK YOU - Your $10 Grew into $115,000 for FA Research

Thanks to everyone who donated. The unofficial results show Fanconi Anemia Research Fund finished in third place (top four charities each get $50,000), The actual donors contributed over $65,000 which means $115,000 U.S. for FA Research Fund. FA Research Fund, our U.S. counterpart, will use this money to supporting leading edge research into FA. FA Research Fund finished in second place but in terms of dollars raised, FA Research Fund came first. Thank you for making the difference.

Open Mike Night Raises $850 for FA Research

Our Open Mike Talent Night on November 7th at the Purple Pig Famous Smokehouse Toronto raised an amazing $800 for medical research. Thanks to our featured entertainers Gavin Tighe, Richard Schiller and John Marle and cameo performers Jeff Simpson and Mitch Goldberg. Thanks to all who supported us in person and in spirit.

$66,500 grant to investigate FA/Breast Cancer linkages.

Fanconi Canada has provided a $66,500 grant to Dr. Francine Durocher of the Cancer Genomics Laboratory at Laval University to explore the potential linkage between FA and the unexplained high incidence of breast cancer occurring in a group of French Canadian families.

$440,000 available for FA Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Fanconi Canada recently announced a new series of partnership award competitions in FA Research at the Masters, Doctoral and Post-Doctoral levels.   Click here for more details.

Financial Statements

Click here for the most recent Financial Statement from Fanconi Canada..

Fanconi Canada Fundraiser Co-Chairs Recognized

Putting together the annual Fanconi Canada Toronto fundraising dinner has become a massive undertaking involving coordinating donations, managing the silent auction details, selling tables, arranging entertainment, menus, seating plans, and overseeing a team of dedicated volunteers. It involves countless hours, tireless dedication and boundless energy. In recognition of their outstanding achievement, the Government of Ontario has honoured co-chairs Karen Granofsky and Jack Daiter with Volunteer Service Awards.

In its six years, the fundraiser has raised over $200,000 to help support medical research. Lorne Shelson, president of Fanconi Canada, said,  ‘the fundraiser’s success is the direct result of Karen and Jack’s commitment and leadership’. This year’s successful gala raised $68,000 alone.

Karen and Jack were among 193 Richmond Hill residents recognized by Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle and Finance Minister Greg Sorbara for making a difference in the lives of others.

“Over the past 20 years we have celebrated the dedication and outstanding achievement of approximately 100,000 volunteers for their community service,” said Colle. “These are the people who give back to their communities in so many ways, from driving seniors to coaching young people.”
This is the twentieth anniversary of the Volunteer Service Awards. The theme is ‘Volunteers Build Communities.’

“Volunteers are critical to York Region and they are the lifeblood of every community in Ontario,” said Ontario Finance Minister and member for Vaughan – King – Aurora, Greg Sorbara. “They make an outstanding personal investment in their communities and these awards are just one way to show our appreciation for their contributions

Reed Magazine

Read this article from Reed, the magazine of Reed College, about an Oregon family living with Fanconi Anemia.