Each of us has been touched by cancer. On March 27th, 2001, our beautiful Blues lost his battle with Lymphoma. He was the sun and moon and stars to us. He was our Smiling Blue Skies. He was everyone’s Blues Man. In loving our dogs, we want the very best for them, in health and in sickness, and in losing Blues, our goal became to find ways and means to support OVC Pet Trust and change the face of cancer. When we began, we started with $1,000, and back then, there was no cancer centre. Today, there is, and we are moving towards our 25th anniversary in the spring of 2026, and we could not have reached beyond the bluest skies to the brightest stars, without your support.
Dr. Jeff Wichtel, OVC’s Dean, wrote, “Raising over $3.3 million is an extraordinary achievement — one that has had a profound impact on advancing canine cancer research, treatment, and care for the beloved pets who mean so much to us all.”
Not only is the Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund for Greatest Needs busy, but the Smiling Blue Skies Fund for Innovative Cancer Research has opened even more doors. As Dr. Brenda Coomber, one time Co-director of the University of Guelph’s Institute of Comparative Cancer Investigation said, “Getting the ball rolling on a novel concept can be a major challenge, and almost every cancer researcher hears the same thing from funding agencies … ‘Come back when you have some evidence you are on the right track.’ The Smiling Blue Skies Fund for Innovative Cancer Research fills an urgent gap in OVC and the cancer centre’s ability to support creative cancer research at its most fragile and vulnerable early stage.” And it is still doing that!!! Take a look at all the amazing Six Degrees of Separation reports.
Groups have reached out across the country, and even further afield, to help dreams come true, helping us fund studies, grants, and special positions, including the coordinator’s position for the BioBank. We have also helped with the purchase of special equipment. Without you, none of this could happen, going all way the back to the very first Hemangiosarcoma Validation Study.
Most important of all, Smiling Blue Skies continues to offer 24/7 support to anyone whose life has been touched by cancer, regardless of where you live. We will try to help you in any way we can.
The generous support that each of you provides has fabulous implications for both animal and human cancers. Thanks to you, we are making a difference in the fight against cancer, on behalf of all of us!!
Wishing you the very best during the holiday season, and may your new year fulfill all your dreams,
Dr. Suzi Beber, honouris causa
Founder
The Smiling Blue Skies® Cancer Fund
“Long live blue skies, where Hope is a kite and dreams really do come true.”