Mining industry raising $3.385M to fund new Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre at BC Children’s Hospital

Mining

PRINCE GEORGE, BC – Mining for Miracles, the BC mining industry’s long-standing fundraising campaign for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, is raising $3.385M to establish the BC Children’s Hospital Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre (CRMC).

The first of its kind in Western Canada, the CRMC will give clinicians at BC Children’s the tools to better understand the genetic cause of heart arrhythmias so they can provide the best possible care to children in BC. It will result in improved diagnoses, identification of optimal treatments, and potentially, cures—improving and saving the lives of children across the province and beyond. In the future, the CRMC may also be used to provide answers for the thousands of children living with other conditions, like diabetes, cancer, bowel disease, and epilepsy.

Premier John Horgan joined BC mining industry representatives at the BC Natural Resources Forum today to launch this year’s fundraising campaign. “The mining community contributes to the strength and resilience of families and communities across B.C., by supporting new, innovative health care initiatives around the province. It’s just one of the ways B.C.’s resource industries make our province stronger.”

“For more than 30 years, Mining for Miracles has provided the opportunity for the BC mining industry to give back to the communities in which we operate,” said Karla Mills, Co-Chair of Mining for Miracles and Vice President, Project Development at Teck. “Through the fantastic support of the mining community, we are helping BC Children’s Hospital—the province’s only full-service pediatric medical centre—provide the best health care imaginable to the one million children living in BC and Yukon” added Steve Krause, Co-Chair of Mining for Miracles and President of Avisar Chartered Professional Accountants.

To kick off its two-year fundraising commitment in support of CRMC, Mining for Miracles announced the launch of their 2020 Diamond Draw at the Mineral Exploration Roundup Conference on Monday, January 20. The Diamond Draw package, valued at $18,000 includes a pear shape 1.20 carat diamond in a gold designer setting, donated by C3 Alliance Corp., Teck, and Costen Catbalue Goldsmith + Design. Diamond Draw tickets are available at mining industry events or can be purchased directly through Mining for Miracles member organizations. The draw will take place Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

Why is establishing the CRMC so important?

• In 2019, about 50,000 Canadians, including children, will die suddenly because of a cardiac arrest.
• 10% of children with heart rhythm disorders are at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest – a condition where the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, which, if not treated within minutes is fatal.
• There are 800 families followed by the BC inherited heart rhythm disorder program.
• Health care is transitioning to a system that uses genetic information to identify why diseases occur. The CRMC will give clinicians at BC Children’s the tools to better understand the genetic cause of heart arrhythmias so they can provide the best possible care to children in BC.
• Currently to find the appropriate treatment options to prevent cardiac arrest, doctors must determine through trial and error which of more than 30 possible heart arrhythmia medication combinations is the right one for each individual child.
• Through the CRMC using only ten drops of blood, researchers will be able to create a “disease in a dish” where they can generate and study a specific child’s beating heart cells.
• By studying cells in a lab, researchers can determine if children are at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest and help determine the best treatment options.
• The CRMC will be the first of its kind in Western Canada
• The CRMC has the potential to prevent years of uncertainty and reduces potential risks and side effects of ineffective drug options. BC’s kids need the CRMC so that they can receive a more accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment options.
• The future vision for the CRMC is to expand beyond childhood heart arrhythmias and apply this state of the art technology to ultimately improve care for children living with other conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, bowel disease, and epilepsy.
• BC Children’s has the clinical and scientific expertise to be leaders in pediatric cellular and regenerative medicine, but they require infrastructure and equipment to do this.

About Mining for Miracles

Every year, volunteers from the mining community work together through Mining for Miracles to help improve the quality of health care for children in our province. Through its support of the construction of facilities, groundbreaking research and the acquisition of specialized medical equipment at the hospital, Mining for Miracles is helping to keep BC Children’s Hospital at the forefront of excellence in pediatric care. The success of Mining for Miracles in funding initiatives like the CRMC at BC Children’s Hospital depends on the generosity of individuals and corporations throughout British Columbia. Donations can be made through fundraising initiatives such as Diamond Draw, the Online Silent Auction, Hooked on Miracles fishing tournament, and Pie Throw, taking place on Thursday, May 21, 2020. To donate, visit www.miningformiracles.ca.