News anchor turned cancer survivor inspires hope, urges Albertans to support cancer research on GivingTuesday

PRESS RELEASE / FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION: Monday, December 2, 2024

ALBERTA – Long-time broadcast journalist and cancer survivor, Jocelyn Laidlaw, is urging Albertans to give hope – and time – to the more than 24,000 people in our province diagnosed with cancer each year by supporting the Alberta Cancer Foundation this GivingTuesday.

Laidlaw, who spent 30 years as a producer, reporter and news anchor with media outlets including CTV News, Global News and CityNews, is a passionate advocate for increased funding for cancer research and patient care after her own experience with colorectal cancer in 2022.

“Your lymph node is fully cancerous,” Laidlaw recalls hearing two years ago. She was experiencing unexplained symptoms, and after months of monitoring and testing, still had no answers as to the cause. It finally led to surgery, revealing her diagnosis of stage 3
colorectal cancer.

Laidlaw underwent intensive treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation, and today is thrilled to say there is no evidence of cancer remaining.  Now a passionate advocate for Albertans with cancer, she credits the Alberta Cancer Foundation for playing a pivotal role in her journey—providing encouragement, hope and access to innovative treatments and compassionate care.

“Every single aspect of my life is different,” says Laidlaw. “And this is going to sound very strange, but many parts of it are much better. The way I approach life is different. I take nothing for granted. I embrace the ridiculously mundane things of life because that’s where the sweet stuff exists – in the everyday moments.”

Jocelyn’s story captures the heart of the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s GivingTuesday campaign, which highlights the importance of creating more moments for Albertans facing cancer.

“Imagine what those living with cancer will give us, if we give them more time,” says Wendy Beauchesne, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. “We know that one in two of us will face a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, and one in four will not survive. This GivingTuesday campaign highlights a universal truth that resonates with everyone touched by cancer: the power of moments and the limits of time.”

“Jocelyn Laidlaw’s courageous journey illustrates the hope that fuels our work and reminds us why we must accelerate research, improve care, and ensure every Albertan facing cancer has access to the latest treatments and support.”

To bring this message to life, the Alberta Cancer Foundation has created a powerful commercial illustrating the impact of donor support in delivering life-saving treatments and creating more moments for Albertans facing cancer.

Watch the commercial here

The Alberta Cancer Foundation is the official fundraising partner for every cancer centre in Alberta. It has made significant strides in recent years, thanks to the generosity of donors. Some key achievements include:

• Advancing cancer care: Raising $298 million as part of the OWN.CANCER campaign for improved treatment and care at the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. 
• Funding research: Supporting over 1,000 Albertans participating in critical cancer research trials. Every clinical trial can help hundreds of thousands of patients.
• Helping over 7,700 Albertans through the Patient Financial Assistance and Provincial Patient Navigation Programs
• Investing in what matters most: Investing over $27 million into the cancer system last year, with a goal to increase this to $40 million this year.

To continue this important work, the Alberta Cancer Foundation is encouraging Albertans to make a donation on GivingTuesday to help give more time and more hope to Albertans facing cancer. All gifts will be doubled, up to $30,000, by Basecamp Resorts.