A small flower for a great cause

The Canadian Cancer Society's daffodils will be on sale from March 26 to 29

MONTREAL, March 25, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - As April, which is Daffodil Month, approaches, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) will, from March 26 to 29, sell a small flower for a great cause: the daffodil, a symbol of life and hope.

Across Quebec, nearly two million daffodils will be sold by 20,000 volunteers at 1,800 points of sale in shopping centres, banks, food stores, office buildings, pharmacies and even businesses.

Radio and television host Josée Boudreault is the spokesperson for the CCS's campaign for a second consecutive year: "My mother died of lung cancer three years ago, a few months before the birth of my daughter Flavie. I'm hopeful that one day, those we love will no longer die from lung cancer like my mother. Let's show our solidarity with people living with cancer. Buy flowers or give them as gifts. That's a wonderful way to support cancer research, contribute to prevention efforts and give hope to those who are living with the disease."

The CCS invites the public to make a simple gesture as an expression of solidarity:

• Buy fresh flowers from March 26 to 29 (at a cost of $5 for 3/$10 for 10).
• Before the end of April, buy a daffodil pin at one of the CCS's regional offices or NAPA Auto Parts stores.

"People living with cancer want support and empathetic listening. Every day, 370 Quebecers turn to the Canadian Cancer Society for support, information and cancer prevention methods. Some 49,500 Quebecers were diagnosed with cancer last year. I encourage all Quebecers to buy daffodils from March 26 to 29 so that the CCS can be there for them and their loved ones," says the André Beaulieu, Spokesperson and Senior Advisor, Public Relations for the Canadian Cancer Society – Quebec Division.

A small flower for a great cause
The money raised during Daffodil Month saves lives: today, 63% of people who are told "you have cancer" are alive five years later. For some cancers, the survival rate is even higher, particularly for childhood cancer (82%), breast cancer (88%), prostate cancer (96%) and testicular cancer (97%). In the 1940s, the survival rate was around 25%.

In Quebec:

• Cancer is the leading cause of death.
• Every 26 minutes, a Quebecer dies of cancer.
• Last year, around 49,500 Quebecers were diagnosed with cancer.

The Canadian Cancer Society is the organization in Quebec that invests the most in the fight against cancer and has the potential to save even more lives. With the support of thousands of Quebecers, donors and volunteers, it fights to prevent more cancers, enable our researchers to make more discoveries and help more people living with the disease. Let's save more lives. Visit cancer.ca or call us at 1 888 939-3333.

SOURCE Canadian Cancer Society, Quebec Division

Image with caption: "The Canadian Cancer Society’s daffodils are back until Sunday. Across Quebec, two million daffodils will be sold at 1,800 sales points. A wonderful way to support cancer research, contribute to prevention efforts and support those who are living with the disease. (CNW Group/Canadian Cancer Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150325_C8004_PHOTO_EN_13481.jpg

André Beaulieu, Spokesperson and Senior Advisor, Public Relations, Canadian Cancer Society - Quebec Division, 514 393-3444 [email protected]