The Andy Fund of Kingston funds cancer-related projects in the Kingston area.  The following are some of our recent projects:

We have made a pledge of $30,000 annually over the next five years to support the new pediatric oncology clinic, part of the expanded Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario at KGH.  Every dollar of our donation is being matched by $9 from the provincial government.

•  $40,000 towards a Stem Cell Separator for the new Stem Cell Transplant Unit at the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario at KGH.

•  We helped to buy a new myoelectric arm for Suzanne Dostaler, a very active young Kingston woman who lost her arm and shoulder to cancer. Suzanne put us in touch with the running community, which led to the formation of “Team Andy”, runners who undertake to raise funds for The Andy Fund when they compete in races, marathons and tri-athlons.

•  A week-long day camp run by Camp Trillium , a camp for children living with cancer.

•  A donation towards a new dedicated ultrasound machine for the Hotel Dieu Breast Assessment Centre.

•  A dragon boat for Chestmates, a Kingston paddling team composed solely of breast cancer survivors, who find that paddling provides beneficial exercise and a valuable sense of cameraderie.

•  Funding for a study on the possible causes of prostate cancer at Queen's and KGH.

•  Patient Puppets – Children at the Cancer Centre find it reassuring to play with these huggable puppets and imagine them undergoing whatever awaits the children themselves.

•  A new colonoscope for the Cancer Centre, to help make waiting lines shorter.

•  Small donations to make life easier for cancer patients with limited means, helping to pay for unforeseen expenses.

•  And many more…

In 2006, we established a Donor Designated Fund within the Community Foundation of Greater Kingston, which is steadily growing. 

The interest is going to the Children’s Cancer Fund at the Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario.  This fund helps families with extra expenses that are incurred when a child has cancer, such as travel, out-of-town accommodation, baby-sitting and loss of income when one parent has to stop work to look after the sick child.