Pat Burns Award - Informal Caregivers to be Honoured for a Second Year

MONTREAL, Sept. 24, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec is proud to launch the 2^nd edition of the Pat Burns Award and reveal its list of jury members. Presented annually, the Pat Burns Award is designed to pay tribute to informal caregivers who have done a particularly outstanding job of supporting an individual with cancer. It is essential that we recognize the assistance of informal caregivers who wage battle against cancer.

Jason Burns, president of the Pat Burns Award and Pat Burns Foundation, is proud of the work performed since the creation of the Award in 2011 and the first awarding ceremony held during the 4^th National Conference to Defeat Cancer last March. "We received so many nominations last year that the jury members, moved by the testimonials, decided to reward 9 nominees with honorary mentions," explains Jason Burns. "This year, we hope to double the number of entries and encourage all Quebecers to nominate an informal caregiver. Everyone knows at least one worthy individual."

Speaking about the jury committee members selected for the 2013 Pat Burns Award, Mr. Burns expressed his good fortune to be among such fine company. In his words: "The jury is made up of fervent cancer opponents whose professional and personal experience with informal caregivers is a tremendous asset in selecting finalists."

The jury committee members of the 2^nd edition of the Pat Burns Award are as follows:

• Dr. Normand Blais, M.Sc., FRCP(c), hematologist and medical oncologist, clinical associate professor - Montreal University, director, interdisciplinary thoracic oncology team, Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer du CHUM 
• Marie-Hélène Dubé, member of the Coalition's cancer patients and survivors committee, and self-employed worker
• Nicole Giroux, vice-president of the cancer patients and survivors committee, kidney cancer patient, and manager, Kidney Cancer Canada (for the province of Quebec)
• Pam Orzeck, MSW, Caregiver Support Centre, Professionals Networking for Caregivers (PNC), CSSS Cavendish
• Danis Prud'homme, general manager, Réseau FADOQ
• Johanne Robitaille Manouvrier, breast cancer survivor, speaker, author of the book "Notre pouvoir de guérison", and developer of the "Guérir sa vie" workshops

You may recall that the first Pat Burns Award honourees were Julie Chapdelaine, as well as two finalists, Pauline Guilbeault-Corbeil and Nathasha Berger for their remarkable contribution to the improvement of a cancer sufferer's quality of life.

"With many years of first-hand experience by my father's side, I am well aware of the crucial importance of the informal caregiver's role in the fight against cancer. Thanks to their energy, courage, determination and spirit, informal caregivers manage to breathe new life into both cancer sufferers and healthcare professionnals who assist them throughout the course of their illness," explains Jason Burns.

Officially, caregiver nominations for the Pat Burns Award may be submitted as of today, Monday September 24, and right up to January 31, 2013 at midnight. Meanwhile, anyone who is interested may refer to the eligibility criteria as well as full contest details on the Pat Burns Award Website (www.prixpatburns.com). And for the first time this year, you will be able to view a Pat Burns Award promotional video on the Pat Burns Award Website, featuring Jason Burns.

The winner will receive a prize of 5 000 $ and the two finalists will each receive a prize of 2 500 $, totaling all together a prize of 10 000 $ in cash.

The names of the winner and two finalists will be officially announced at the 2^nd edition of the Pat Burns awards presentation ceremony to be held during the 5^th National Conference to Defeat Cancer, on April 11 and 12, 2013 in Montreal.

About the Coalition

Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec was founded in 2001 to protect and give a voice to people affected by cancer (patients, survivors, informal caregivers, and their families, as well as cancer-related community organizations and health professionals) and to help organize the fight against cancer.

With its membership organizations and individuals, the Coalition represents near 1.5 people.

SOURCE: Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec

For more information or to request an interview:
Sylvie Piché, Communications Advisor
[phone], ext. 225
[email protected]