When Evelyn walks into the new Cancer and Medical Care Clinic at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance - Stratford General Hospital site, she feels something that wasn’t always part of her journey — comfort.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, Evelyn’s journey has included surgeries, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy — each step taken with strength and hope. In 2023, when her cancer returned, she needed more treatment — but this time, all of her care could happen right here in Stratford, with her care team and services
close by and connected.

“A cancer diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of the road,” Evelyn says. “It can be just a bump in the road of life.”

Even with her optimism, the old Chemotherapy Unit made a difficult journey even harder. Cramped spaces. Inaccessible washrooms. Isolation from others going through the same thing.

“You had to ring a little bell to get your nurse’s attention and hope you didn’t drop it,” she recalls. “And you had no other contact with people. Being around others is a big part of survival.”

New Space for Healing and Hope

It wasn’t just patients who felt the challenges of the old space.

“Providing care in the old unit could be challenging,” says Katelyn Love-De-Jong, Registered Nurse.

“We didn’t have oxygen on the walls or a call bell system. We were spread out, and it was hard to work as a team.”

Registered Nurse Kathy Blake remembers the retro charm — but also the leaking ceiling, poor lighting, and the difficulty of maneuvering IV poles and equipment in tight spaces.

Today, the story is different. Now, Evelyn sees bright, open treatment bays. She relaxes in a new power-adjustable chair with plenty of space. She’s surrounded by others, but with the option for privacy when she needs it. “This new clinic is a safe space,” she says. “A home for people for many weeks — or in my case, a few years.”

Katelyn, RN & Evelyn

Kindness Lives in Every Corner

This transformation didn’t happen by chance. It happened because of a community that believes exceptional care deserves an exceptional space.

While the government funds certain aspects of healthcare, it doesn’t cover some of the most important parts — like purchasing new and replacement hospital equipment and technology that keeps us on the leading edge of care.

Thanks to donor generosity, our In Our Hands Capital Campaign has now surpassed its $30 million goal. The campaign’s largest investment, $15 million, made this new Cancer and Medical Care Clinic with co-located Pharmacy possible.

But the need doesn't end here. Your support today will help us continue to equip the clinic with the latest tools and technologies, comfort-enhancing items, and the flexibility to meet emerging needs. 

For Evelyn, this clinic isn’t just a place where she receives care — it’s a cause she has personally championed. In November 2024, she took part in Shave Cancer Away, a fundraiser to support the very clinic where she receives treatment. By bravely shaving her head alongside a now retired HPHA team member, she helped raise more than $4,200 to ensure others facing cancer would have access to the best care
possible — right here in our community. “It’s such an important space,”
she says. “I wanted to give back!”

This is the power of community — patients, staff, and donors like you coming together to make compassionate, high-quality care possible. Thanks to generous donors, this clinic is already changing lives.

Your gift helps ensure it continues to do so for years to come. Please give today - and help kindness live in every corner. For every patient, every visit, and every moment that matters.

Donate Today!
 

Every donation helps provide the best equipment, patient-centred spaces, and supports a care team that feels like family. To see the difference your investment makes, take a short video tour of the new Cancer and Medical Care Clinic. Thank you for being a vital part of this compassionate community.