In July 2009, Janis Foligno passed away after a battle with breast cancer. The foundation that bears her name was created in her honour to help those doing cancer research and those fighting cancer.
Today, retired NHLer and Janis' husband, Mike Foligno, along with his son and NHL player Marcus Foligno, recognized a group of charities that support those battling cancer.
"We want to keep benefiting our community and try to find a cure for cancer," Mike Foligno said.
This year's recipients included the Canadian Cancer Society who received $30,000, Meals on Wheels, Maison McCulloch Hospice, Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) and the dental oncology clinic at the Northern Ontario Cancer Centre, who each received $10,000 donations from the Janis Foligno Foundation.
The donation made to the Canadian Cancer Society will be matched by the Canadian Institute of Health Research and will spent on researching how the immune system responds to an aggressive form of breast cancer in women whose tumours have spread to other parts of the body.
Dr. Susan Done from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will develop a test to help predict how each tumour will behave. This research could improve immunotherapies and guide treatment decisions for this hard to treat form of breast cancer.
For more information or to make a donation to the Janis Foligno Foundation visit janisfolignofoundation.com
