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Okanagan dealership family drives $1.5M into cancer care

Bannisters give where they live, supporting systemic therapy suite at BC Cancer ѻý Kelowna
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The Bannister family has donated $1.5 million to the BC Cancer Foundation. (Contributed)

The family behind several big dealerships in the Okanagan has put a significant donation into gear for cancer research and care in the Interior.

The Bannister family, of Bannister Automotive Group, has made an incredibly generous gift of $1.5 million to the BC Cancer Foundation.

The donation will go towards creating a new, state-of-the-art systemic therapy suite at BC Cancer ѻý Kelowna.

ѻýThe suite is essential to meeting the growing demand for cancer treatments in the Interior, while also providing the infrastructure to bring early phase clinical trials to Kelowna for the first time,ѻý according to the BC Cancer Foundation. ѻýThis will ensure patients have timely access to the latest life-saving treatments closer to home and establish Kelowna as a centre for excellence in patient-focused care.ѻý

The donation is in addition to the Bannistersѻý $100,000 in 2020 to help establish BC Cancer ѻý Kelownaѻýs Brachytherapy chair role, which is held by Dr. Juanita Crook.

ѻýThe work done by BC Cancer ѻý Kelownaѻýs dedicated staff as they both provide care to current patients and conduct the innovative research needed to improve outcomes is nothing short of remarkable. With three generations of our family living in the Okanagan, we know the importance of having world-class cancer care close to home and are proud to help ensure this continues to be available for our communities for the generations to come,ѻý said Chad and Lyn Bannister on behalf of the family.

Dr. Ross Halperin, BC Cancer ѻý Kelownaѻýs executive medical director, says the familyѻýs gift will have an ѻýincredible impact on how weѻýre able to treat patients in Kelowna.

ѻýThis is an incredibly exciting time for cancer research and weѻýre proud to be among the busiest clinical trials site in the province. This donation will help us expand even further and be at the forefront of the most important areas of research, like immunotherapy.ѻý

The donation is the largest gift to the suite to date and the most significant donation received by the BC Cancer Foundation from a family in the Interior.

To join the Bannisters in transforming cancer care in the Interior, visit: .

Bannister Automotive owns dealerships in Vernon, Kelowna, Salmon Arm, Penticton, Kamloops and beyond.

Lyn and Joanne Bannister purchased their first dealership in Barrhead, Alta., in 1979 before selling it and moving to Vernon in 1990 and purchasing the Buick, GMC, Chevrolet dealership and growing from there.

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Jennifer Smith

About the Author: Jennifer Smith

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