Pencer Brain Tumor Centre

Patient Programs and Services

Past PFAC Projects

PFAC Hat Display 2006

The variety of hats and the colours was the first thing that stood out. When you read the stories attached to the hats and saw the pictures you could feel the heartache the family had gone through when losing a loved one.

There was humour there too. A hat made up of someone’s old MRI films, a jester’s hat. Standing out was a bright yellow hat decorated with a car on top and pennies and old jewellery and sequins.

There was a white nurse’s hat accompanied with a stethoscope reminding us that we are not alone and have a team that is there for us. A support group sent two hats with the saying two hats are better than one. Other support groups sent hats to represent their members.

"This display is an eye opener."

This display is an eye opener for visitors because the display only represents a small number of people diagnosed with a brain tumour. Just think if we had a hat for every person in Canada diagnosed with a brain tumour each year. The figure I am told is 10,000 Canadians each year.

This hat display was brought to the open house as a collaborative project between the PFAC and the Canadian Alliance of Brain Tumour Organizations to help raise awareness about the challenges faced by those living with a brain tumour; also the effect it has on the family as a whole.

"Head for a Cure" 5K Walk/Run - 2006

5K "Head for a Cure" Run - Sunday, October 16, 2005

"Head for a Cure" 5K Walk/Run - 2004

Throw Your Hat Into the Ring - 2004

Head for a Cure 5 Km Walk 2003
Clutching pledges carefully collected over the preceding few months, more than 100 excited patients, their families and friends gathered at Queen’s Park early on a cool Sunday morning in October to “Head for a Cure.”

This five-kilometre walk was the culmination of months of work raising money for a fund to be managed by the Gerry and Nancy Pencer Centre’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee. Enthusiastic participants are thrilled to announce they have raised the incredible sum of $47,000! And pledges are still coming in.

The walkers were the heralds for the runners of the Toronto Marathon, the event PFAC tagged on to. They cheerfully strolled down University Avenue, where traffic was banned for the duration of the marathon, and north again. PFAC members Steve Ferrari and Susan Capone carried a banner emblazoned with the Head for a Cure slogan and were cheered on by many spectators at the finish line in Queen’s Park.

The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation will place the money raised in an endowed fund and the annual accrued interest will be used for special projects at the Pencer Centre. Suggestions are welcome.

This event, held to coincide with Brain Tumor Awareness Month, was the inauguration of what we hope will be an annual fundraiser.

The Dream Catcher 2002
Not simply an‘ornament,’ the Dream Catcher represents the circle of life and reminds us that the spirit is eternal and lives on even after death. Irona Fraser, a Brain Tumour survivor and member of the P.F.A.C. since it’s inception, writes about this project. Click here to read about our Dream Catcher.

Brainspirations 2001
Once again, our own Patient and Family Advisory Committee have outdone themselves! Brainspirations is a treasury of positive and inspiring messages, stories and hints from our our most valuable teachers – brain tumor patients and families themselves. Our Patient and Family Advisory Committee has worked to compile this wonderful collection of material to share with others who are walking this same path. A copy of Brainspirations is now included in each Patient Information Binder when it is given to every new patient on their first visit to the Pencer Centre. It is our greatest hope that those patients and families who are newly facing the challenge living with a brain tumor will find in this collection, the encouraging, and reassuring message that “you are not alone.”

Quilt 1999
Created to mark the 1st Annual Open House at The Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Tumor Centre in October 1999, this beautiful patchwork quilt was handcrafted by the dedicated members of our Patient & Family Advisory Committee, from individual multi-coloured felt squares. Each square, designed by a different member of the committee holds an inspiring and deeply personal message of coping with a brain tumor. This inspiring work of art is now permanently displayed opposite our juice bar in the Pencer Centre.

We hope you will drop by to view this breathtaking accomplishment. It is a treat for the eye and is guaranteed to lift your spirits.

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