I was walking through The Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday and spotted this saying handwritten on a white board across from the blood lab: “The way of Courage passes directly through your greatest fear.” Courage is a concept that comes up in a cancer centre on a regular basis. We see many, many patients and their families display incredible courage. We also see staff like doctors, nurses, security guards and patient flow coordinators all display courage as well. Courage is a word and a concept well-known to cancer patients and their caregivers. What is interesting is how seldom the word and concept of “courage” is used in the business community. Sure, entrepreneurs are often described as courageous, but nearly always after they are successful. In the business world, courage is not a word that is commonly used. Courage does not show up on most performance appraisals. Courage is not ‘taught’ or even discussed in most business schools. I have learned a great deal about courage in my work at The Princess Margaret. Courage is the third principle of Passion Capital and all Passion Capitalists possess courage. Courage is the ‘soul’ of Passion Capital. Here’s to all those who understand the meaning of: “The way of Courage passes directly through your greatest fear.”

Every person who hears those three words, “You have cancer”, has a very personal response and one that is felt by loved ones and friends alike. We now know that every cancer is as individual as the person who has it. The response and the feelings that result when someone finds out they have cancer is likewise as personal. One of the most interesting books of the year was “The Emperor of All Maladies” which was a biography of the disease of cancer. The book was named one of the 10 best by the New York Times Book Review in 2010. The book was extremely well written but importantly, it was a very personal look at this disease. As we close 2011, The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation is embarking on a very bold and revolutionary new approach to treating and researching cancer. Personalized cancer medicine is our vision, mission, and ambition for 2012 and for the future. This new approach to both clinical care and research is truly revolutionary and we hope to raise a record sum of financial capital so that our human capital can deliver this new promise. The future for Princess Margaret and for all Canadian hospitals who treat cancer patients will be created around this personal approach to this most personal and devastating disease. There are four major components of personalized cancer medicine and they are: 1. Detect 2. Diagnose 3. Target 4. Support. Each one of these four components will have specific strategies and techniques in order for us to deliver on the new world order of personalized cancer medicine. For all of our donors, supporters, volunteers and staff, cancer is much more than a disease involving unregulated cellular growth. Cancer is personal. Cancer medicine and cancer research will be equally personal. As we enter 2012 you will be able to learn about this new approach and importantly, we are going to be reaching out to our community of supporters with the most ambitious fundraising program in the history of Canadian hospitals. So, many thanks to each and every one of our supporters and we need you to learn, engage, and support the revolution in personalized cancer medicine.

November 2nd 2002 is the day my Mom- Pat Alofs-died of cancer at her home in Windsor. We all looked after her at home in those very difficult last months. I was with her almost constantly the last month and was staying at the Hilton and then going to be with her in her home for 14 or 18 hours. I will never forget those last few days and the support of family and friends. Plus the time spent with an incredible palliative care nurse, who spent more time looking after me as my Mom lost consciousness and slipped away. Pat Alofs was this amazing (I mean really incredible) Mother and Grand Mother. She was everyones favourite teacher at St. Gabriels school in Windsor where she taught for so many years. What a special, warm and caring person. Her cancer took her life but she never became less than the superb person she always was. So today is a day for all in my family and extended family to remember Pat, Mom, Manny. I now believe in angels! We all love you and miss you Mom! My Mom was the original Passion Capitalist in my life.

My Mom had the Passion Capital building blocks of creed, culture, courage and persistence down and fully in practice. Her example led me to Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. Since joining PMHF 8 years ago I have helped raise about $600 million to provide the financial capital for PMH to become “One of the World’s Top 5 Cancer Centres”. Passion comes from many places, including from loss and grief. Out of bad comes good. Here’s to you Mom and to all the people in our lives who inspire our “Passion Capital”.

Having worked for many years in the music business I have had a chance to meet many artists face-to-face. From Cher to Alice Cooper to Mariah Carey to Iggy Pop…..I have to say its one of the benefits of the music business I miss!  Last night, with the help of Geoff Beattie, I had a chance to meet Bono before the U2 concert in Toronto.  Dr. Bob Bell and I are pictured below saying hello to Bono.  It was remarkable that Bono brought up the famous Dr. Judah Falkman and anti-angiogenesis work he did in cancer research when he found out where Bob and I worked. Judah is a hero in cancer research but not exactly a household name.  Bono was gracious, funny and authentically interested in Princess Margaret’s cancer research work.  Bono is very involved in Aids research but knowledgeable of many global health related issues.  Quite a guy.  The concert was extraordinary.  Under the stars of a warm Toronto night with the Rogers Centre Dome fully opened the U2 “space craft” stage looked ready to take flight.

The CN Tower became part of the set.  It’s the 5^th time I have seen U2 live and they just keep getting better.  Highlight of the night (other than Bono talking about anti-angiogensis research!) was “A Beautiful Day” with the link to the space station.  Passion and Irish lyricism and “The Edge” adding his brilliant guitar work.  Stunning!  Thanks Geoff Beattie and thanks Bono! A Beautiful Day indeed!

We are just looking ahead to the July long weekend.  I think back 8 years ago and I recall showing up on the day after the July long weekend as a volunteer at Princess Margaret.  Walking into the Murray Street entrance of the 900,000 square foot building that houses one of the world’s top 5 cancer centres on that fateful morning is remarkably clear in my memory.  As a volunteer, I met with Heather Hardie, our amazing leader of all the volunteers and picked up my maroon-coloured vest.  During the month of July I had a chance to work as a volunteer in nearly every clinic and other part of the hospital and research organization.  One of my most memorable moments was working at the reception desk with our incredible receptionist, Barb Tiano.  Because it was still part of the “SARS” scare, we each donned a full surgical mask and plastic visor as we greeted patients and visitors.  People like Barb play such an important role to the “caring culture” of Princess Margaret.  I met so many patients and docs and volunteers and nurses and other staff during that month I worked as a volunteer.  Although it was 8 years ago, the time I spent during the month of July 2003 is still incredibly important to me in my job as CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.  Although I am a full-time (more than full-time!) member of the team, I still hold on to and reflect on how important the volunteers are to all aspects of PMH and the Foundation.  Volunteers are part of the DNA of Princess Margaret and one of the key reasons we are able to perform at a level that we are recognized as one of the top 5 cancer centres in the world.   It’s been a great 8 years and I am so fortunate to work with extraordinary people for a cause that I think is more important than any other to me.  Thanks Heather and Barb and all who “trained me” back in July 2003!

Last week I was in Boston helping my daughter find an apartment before she begins work this fall. I took time out to visit Dana Farber and tour the new Yawkey facility with Susan Paresky. Susan is the long serving and very talented head of Development and the Jimmy Fund at Dana Farber. The Yawkey Center (photo below) just opened and is part of the Dana Farber cancer treatment complex. It is well designed and set up for patient centred care and comfort. It is an outstanding facility and funded in part through the major gifts campaign, Jimmy Fund, Pan Mass Challenge, and other philanthropic activities of Dana Farber. PMH and Dana Farber are similar in size and scope of patient care activities. Dana Farber, also like PMH, has an extraordinary cancer research centre integrated into its core. Susan and some of her team will be visiting Toronto and touring PMH this fall as she is fascinated by many of our unique approaches to fund raising. Thanks to Susan! BTW, my daughter got a great apartment in the Back Bay (Commonwealth Ave and Dartmouth). We also went to see the Red Sox play the Cubs, the first time these two teams played at Fenway in over 90 years! Red Sox won on Sunday night. Also spent four days in Nantucket thanks to the hospitality of Geoff Beattie. Thanks Geoff!!!

My daughter Sarah is known to many in the PMH family of supporters, volunteers and staff. Sarah had done the Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers nearly every year plus been out to many PMHF events. It is wonderful when our daughters and sons come out and ride, walk, run, triathalon, fundraise, celebrate, support and console us. The picture of Sarah below is taken as she signs her offer of employment with the Boston Consulting Group January 21st. Although she will be working from the Boston office of BCG, I know she will continue to support PMHF and our work. To all of our kids who come out and help out and support our cause “To Conquer Cancer in Our Lifetime”-MANY THANKS! Your parents and relatives appreciate your involvement more than they can say! Congrats, hugs and thanks Sarah from your proud Dad.

The photo below is of my son James and first mate Andrew aboard the Lethal Weapon off the southern coast of Key West. James caught, landed and released this 7 foot sail fish unharmed (he and the fish were unharmed). Many know my passion for fishing and I wanted to share this photo with you. Hardest part was getting up to go fishing at 6:30am New Years Day in 8 foot swells off shore! Hope you get time to pursue your passion (whatever it is) this year!

Happy New Year everyone! While on holiday I read the best seller “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Sid Mukherjee. It is more than a complete “history” of cancer it is an “autobiography” of the disease. Sid is a clinician scientist who started his career at Dana Farber. It is long, detailed, written so a lay person can understand it, and personal. It wraps the history, science, successes and failures of the cancer world together with patient stories that will speak directly to anyone confronting the disease. I didn’t start the book until just after Christmas as I was intimidated by its length and subject matter. Every day at Princess Margaret and in my personal life too I deal with cancer and those who have it - those who treat it- those trying to conquer it. So when I started to read it I had a break and ploughed into it. I couldn’t put the book down. Just a master piece of storytelling and fine writing about a subject I live and breathe. Interesting, the other fine book I read over the holiday was the autobiography of tennis legend Andre Agassi. In terms of style these books had similarities of “autobiographical” subject matter and were both excellent reads. For anyone who is dealing with cancer, treating cancer patients, doing research on conquering cancer or otherwise trying to help beat cancer, I highly recommend “The Emperor of All Maladies”. My wish for the New Year is that this “Emperor” disappears like all the emperors of the past, and cancer will be “history” not “biography”. Happy, Happy, Happy New Year!!!

This time of year most media outlets and pundits make forecasts on the coming year. Last year the Winter Olympics were Canada’s ‘time to shine” and shine we did. The “Own the Podium” program was a little controversial at first but when the gold medals started piling up Canadians took pride in being “the world’s best”. So here’s my prediction for 2011: Canada will own the podium in many, many ways! Our banking system will get the highest marks for stability and effectiveness. Our big cities work and are global examples of the energy and diversity of the Canadian way. Our health care sector will lead the world in certain aspects of access and excellence. Our bio tech sector will finally evolve and step out in regenerative medicine, stem cells, personalized medicine, and oncology. Canadian writers and thinkers will increasingly be recognized as both “different from Americans” and possessing a unique comprehension of “the new world order”. We’ll lead in aspects of energy, mining, agriculture and green tech where we have such strength. Canadians will step up and step out and “own the podium” in many ways in 2011. The Globe & Mail’s brilliant campaign “It’s Canada’s Time to Lead” will be way more than an advertising slogan in 2011. It will capture our ambition and our new found determination to “Own the Podium”….and not just in hockey and winter sports! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year. To all who want to “Own the Podium” in 2011, all the best and welcome to a future where our small country has big impact around the world! In particular, watch for The Princess Margaret to “Own the Podium” in important ways in 2011! Thanks for your help, support, work, commitment, tears, ambition and grit.