A partnership between the BC Cancer Foundation and independent grocers across Vancouver Island is seeking to bring advanced prostate imaging technology, called PSMA-PET scanning, to BC Cancer Victoria.

Tru Value Foods, along with other grocery stores such as Quality Foods and Thrifty Foods, formed The Future Cures Coalition. The organization is fundraising towards a goal of $500,000 for what Alison Henwood, communications specialist at BC Cancer Foundation, said is “state-of-the-art imaging technology that helps pinpoint the precise location of prostate cancer and reveal if it has spread. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Canada. And over 3,600 British Columbians are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and over 3,700 in 2022."

PET scans work by injecting a radioactive dye to highlight specific regions in the body, and in the PSMA-PET diagnostic, the tracer dye includes a molecule which binds to proteins found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. Currently in BC, the technology is only available in Vancouver.

The two-months campaign is in its final weeks, and donations can also be made directly online. Thrifty Foods will be matching all donations up to $125,000 until the final day of Nov. 8.

Dean Clarke, chair of The Future Cures, is also the owner of Tru Value Foods, and two of their four stores are located on Quadra Island. Each store is outfitted with a Tru Value Spirit Board, which is a list of participating organizations accepting donations at checkout. Each customer can choose which group will receive the amount equal to one percent of their purchases. A cluster of Cortes organizations are likewise listed on the Quadra stores’ spirit boards.

Rob Pain, manager of the Quathiaski Cove location, explained that on Toonie Tuesday an additional $2 can be donated toward the cause. 

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