Cancer patients from the Southern Interior will now have access to cancer care that will integrate with standard treatments and help to optimize recovery and survival.
The B.C. Ministry of Health is supporting the expansion of InspireHealth, Canada’s first and foremost integrative cancer care centre, to Kelowna as part of its Healthy Families BC initiative.
Steve Thomson, Kelowna-Mission MLA, on behalf of Michael de Jong, Minister of Health said, “Our government’s vision is for a cancer-free society, and programs like InspireHealth support this vision.”
“Unfortunately, many British Columbians have been affected by cancer in some way.’
“Statistics show that one in three will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime.”
“Because of this, we need to provide care, support and comfort for our families and friends facing stressful times.”
On hand at the official launch of the Southern Interior centre in Kelowna, will be RBC Olympian, Summerland’s own Kristi Richards.
She will be speaking about her personal connection with InspireHealth, having been through their LIFE Program as a support person for her father, who is a patient of InspireHealth.
“Relief comes from knowing that he (my father) could have one centre point for his diagnosis and the treatments he wanted to explore, and an integrative plan for his life and recovery,” said Richards.
“InspireHealth was the place to map it out for him. They were incredibly unbiased in all the information they were giving – it was truly integrative in every way. They transformed my father’s life.”
As part of the opening celebration, Richards will be donating $5,000 to InspireHealth, her charity of choice, as part of the RBC Olympian Grant Program.
The RBC Olympian Grant Program provides 37 Olympic and Paralympic athletes from across Canada the opportunity to give back to a charity or organization that has an impact on their lives.
InspireHealth’s model of integrative cancer care works together with a patient’s family doctor and oncologist to provide the best care possible.
The Vancouver centre has been open to British Columbians since 1997, and they have served more than 6,500 people with a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Hal Gunn, co-founder and CEO of InspireHealth said, “Being diagnosed with cancer is challenging, but it can provide a window of opportunity for significant lifestyle changes.”
“We provide integrative care and support, and engage patients so that the fear of cancer is transformed into an inspired journey of health and well-being.”
InspireHealth helps those with a diagnosis of cancer regain control in their lives by empowering them to play an active role in the development of their own personalized cancer care and wellness program.
InspireHealth is a non-profit society funded in part through British Columbia’s Ministry of Health.
No referral is necessary, and the doctors are covered by the B.C. Medical Services Plan.
