Hemophilia Research Million Dollar Club – Report from the chair

The Hemophilia Research Grants Review Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. Manuel Carcao, met earlier this year and announced the 2020 grant recipients for the CHS Dream of a Cure Research Program. Descriptions of the projects can be found on the CHS website at www.hemophilia.ca/chs-dream-of-a-cure-research-program. These grants total $162,262 in value and were made possible by funding provided by the Hemophilia Research Million Dollar Club (HRMDC) and the Canadian Hemophilia Society. The HRMDC has provided over $5 million in support of hemophilia research in Canada since 1991. This has made such a difference in quality of life for people with inherited bleeding disorders.

We have always depended on our bleeding disorder community – the provincial chapters, individuals, families and groups – which has provided financial support since the Club’s inception in 1984. In 2019, members, individuals and corporations collectively raised $82,349 that was directed towards current research.

Special thanks to 15-year-old Connor Blicker, who, since 2016, asks his friends to support the HMRDC in lieu of birthday gifts. For the third year in a row, Ian Van Oosten, whose mother, Sue, is a nurse at the QE II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, has asked the Wellington Bakery and Café to contribute the coins they collect for charities to be directed to the HRMDC. January is now considered “hemophilia” month for them. This year, Dr. Ron and Leni George, long-time supporters of the Club, purchased non-voting class certificates in honour of their 60th wedding anniversary as did Leni’s sister Ruth. Again, just a few examples of how our community always comes through for research.

I would like to stress how important it is to fund current research. With interest rates as low as they are, the return rates alone on the endowment fund barely cover one grant and, unfortunately, each year we have no choice but to turn down many projects for lack of funding. As YOU and your family depend on RESEARCH, RESEARCH also depends on YOU. The most effective way you can help bleeding disorder research in Canada is by supporting the HRMDC. To make a contribution, please contact Joyce Argall at the CHS national office (1-800-668-2686 | jargall@hemophilia.ca) or visit the Get involved/To support us section of the CHS website.

We are pleased to acknowledge in CHS Contact our members and donors who truly understand that the Hemophilia Research Fund is their fund. Please click HERE to see the complete list of Voting Members, Non-Voting Members, Honorary Members and Honorees who have supported the HRMDC from 1984-2019. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your generosity!