The public is invited to attend a free dialogue presented by the Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI) at Memorial University on Monday, April 12, 2010. The event is being held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, which began in St. John’s in 1980.

The dialogue is titled Cancer: Let’s Get Personal and is open to persons interested in knowing more about cancer care and research. Researchers, health professionals and cancer survivors from the four Atlantic Provinces will participate. They will discuss the health of the population, the health care system and the science behind cancer care.

Local speakers and panellists are:

•           Dr. Kara Laing of H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre and Dr. Stewart Rorke of the Eastern Health Authority;

•           Geneticist Dr. Jane Green, health care ethicist Dr. Chris Kaposy and retired professor Dr. Verna Skanes, all of Memorial University of Newfoundland; 

•           Geoff Eaton, president of Young Adult Cancer Canada.

Members of the Terry Fox Research Institute, the Terry Fox Foundation and the Terry Fox Family will also be present.

The event begins with a public reception at 4:30 p.m. in the Lower Atrium of the Inco Innovation Centre. The dialogue starts at 5:30 p.m. in room 2001 at the Inco Innovation Centre.

The event is co-funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Terry Fox Foundation and the TFRI.

For more information and/or to reserve a seat, register on the Dialogue website at http://www.tfri.ca/meetings/dialogue1/.

For further information, please contact: Sharon Gray, communications co-ordinator (health sciences) at (709) 777-8397 or sharon.gray@mun.ca.