Pat Burns Award: Twelve caregivers honoured

MONTREAL, March 29, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - In conjunction with the 4th National Conference to Defeat Cancer, the jury of the Pat Burns Award has announced the recipient of the annual Pat Burns Award and the names of the award finalists. Inspired by Jason Burns, son of the late head coach of the Montreal Canadiens and president of the Pat Burns Foundation, this award was created by the Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec to honour a caregiver who has particularly stood out in providing support to a person living with cancer.

"Six months ago, at the start of the nomination period for the Pat Burns Award, I could hardly imagine the immense generosity that the participants would demonstrate in sharing with us such a significant part of their lives," Mr. Burns, president of the Pat Burns Award, said at the awards presentation.

A gift of $10,000 is shared by the 2011 Pat Burns Award recipient and the two finalists. The award is graciously offered by the Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes (FQM) and the Fondation québécoise de la massothérapie.

Pat Burns Award recipient

Ms Julie Chapdelaine
At age 27, Julie's husband, Marc-André Benoît, was diagnosed with a form of leukemia called granulocytic sarcoma. His legs almost totally paralysed, Marc-André had to undergo major back surgery, followed by physical rehabilitation and multiple chemotherapy treatments. In addition to quitting her job and spending five days a week at her husband's side in hospital, Julie, then aged 30, was able to see to his comfort, as well as that of their two children, handle daily tasks and look after herself, too. Today, as the family slowly gets back to a normal life, Marc-André declares that Julie's presence at his side has made all the difference and that she "deserves all the honours in the world."

Finalists (tie)

Ms Pauline Guilbault-Corbeil
"A true 'love catalyst', a woman of courage with an enormous heart, Pauline unfailingly supported her son. Confident and reassuring, she was both mom and confidant. Throughout Charles' illness, Pauline was an equally generous mother to her two other sons, both of whom also suffer from a handicapping disease. Her entire life has involved, and will continue to involve, providing support to her loved ones. Pauline has ably balanced family, outings with friends and sports activities."

- Chantal Charron, Charles' spouse

Ms Natacha Berger
"Natacha Berger is the mother of three: Thomas, Nicolas and Joanna Comtois. Joanna died in February 2011 at age 14 from bone cancer. Diagnosed in June 2004 with Ewing's sarcoma, after a full year of treatments, she was in remission for three years. Sadly, she relapsed in 2008. Soon after, in the fall of that year, her father committed suicide. We could go on at great length about Joanna and the path she followed. But it's imperative to emphasize that none of that would have been possible without the exemplary support, the devoted care and the attention that her mother gave her while fully respecting her daughter's needs and wishes."

-     Louise Geoffrion, Leucan Montréal

The Pat Burns Award recipient receives $5000 and the two finalists, $2500 each.

Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec president Dr. Pierre Audet-Lapointe thanked everyone who proposed a candidate for the Pat Burns Award, as well as the jury members.

"We are proud that this initiative spotlights in a new way the key role played by caregivers," Dr. Audet-Lapointe said. "Without them, the lives of people living with cancer would often be unbearable."

The application period for the second edition of the Pat Burns Award will open officially this fall.

Nine honourable mentions

The jury members also decided to give honourable mentions to nine caregivers to salute their altruism and in acknowledgement of the testimonials to their humane nature that accompanied their nominations.

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, their families and their loved ones) to help support cancer-related community organizations and health professionals) and to help organize the fight against cancer.

The Coalition's members represent more than 1.5 million people

Alliance des Communautés Culturelles pour l'Égalité dans la Santé et les Services Sociaux (ACCÉSSS), Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS), Association des radio-oncologues du Québec (AROQ), Association du cancer de l'Est du Québec, Association des laryngectomisés de Montréal Inc, Care-Ring-Voice Network, Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN), Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), Association québécoise des registraires en oncologie (AQRO), Association des retraitées et retraités de l'éducation et des autres services publics du Québec (AREQ), Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), Chaire de recherche en environnement cancer Guzzo de l'université de Montréal, Chaire de recherche et de traitement du cancer de l'UQAM, Quebec Clinical Research Organization in Cancer (Q-CROC), Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), la Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes, la Fondation québécoise de la massothérapie FQM, Fondation Monique Fitz-Back, Fondation québécoise du cancer (FQC), Fondation Rêvez la vie, Foundation of Stars,  Hope and Cope / L'espoir c'est la vie, HPV Awareness Corporation, Institut de l'anémie - Recherche et éducation (IARE), Lymphoma Foundation Canada, Lymphedema Association of Quebec, Libera Mutatio, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, Mains de l'espoir de Charlevoix, Myeloma Canada, Nova Montréal, Ordre des technologues en imagerie médicale et en radio-oncologie du Québec, Ordre professionnel des technologistes médicaux du Québec (OPTMQ), Organisation multiressources pour les personnes atteintes de cancer (OMPAC), Organisation québécoise pour les personnes atteintes de cancer (OQPAC), Organisme gaspésien pour les personnes atteintes de cancer (OGPAC), Ovaire espoir Québec, Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC), Palliative Home-care Society of Greater Montreal, ProCure-The Force Against Prostate Cancer, Professionnals Networking for Caregivers, Quebec Lung Association (QLA), Regroupement des onco-psychologues du Québec (ROPQ), Réseau des femmes en environnement, Réseau FADOQ.

Source : Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec

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