Research - Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

5In 2012, a special projects campaignwas launched by the board ofdirectors and leadership volunteers.These projects include:• A brain tumour registry that by 2017 will beCanada’s first and only complete source of braintumour data.Bill and Carol Deys are long-time supportersof the brain tumour community and havechosen to support the Education Awards.• Research Studentships that accelerate brain tumourresearch and encourage young scientists to pursuecareers in the neuroscience field.• Education Awards for pediatric brain tumour survivorspursuing post-secondary studies, ensuring a brighterfuture for young adults who have endured thechallenges of a brain tumour.Gilles Cayouette is a glioblastomamultiforme brain tumour survivor andhas chosen to support the ResearchStudentships.“I discovered Brain Tumour Foundation ofCanada in 2006 and have been involved eversince. When I learned that the organizationwas planning different ways to draw studentsand researchers to the field of neuroscience,I was happy to fund this promising endeavourdirectly through a studentship. I mentionedthe project to our oldest son who immediatelysaid, “Dad, how about joining forcesto fund a studentship?” My face beamedmy delight: Imagine a father (and eight-yearGBM survivor) and son team. One of theseresearch students could find a cure, and wemust do anything we can to make it happen.“We became involved with Brain TumourFoundation Canada 16 years ago when a closefriend’s daughter was diagnosed with a braintumour. Throughout the years, we’ve beeninvolved in various fundraising activitiesand enjoyed each one! Last year, when wewere presented with a few different scenariosof ways to help families and brain tumourpatients, the Education Awards struck us as aunique opportunity. It really tugged at ourheart strings to hear about the incrediblechallenges pediatric brain tumour survivorscan face and how this could impact theirfutures. Knowing we could help othersaccomplish goals we feel all young adultsshould have was important to us. In our eyes,the real heroes are the individuals and families”affected by brain tumours and theydeserve our support.”