Yorkton cancer fundraiser donates $10K for hospital expansion

YORKTON – Leone and Greg Ottenbreit, Co-founders of Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts For Cancer, presented a $10,000 cheque to the Health Foundation the afternoon of May 7.

The donation will go towards the expansion of local cancer services at Yorkton Regional Health Centre.

Ross Fisher, executive director of the Health Foundation, emphasized the impact of the donation.

"This donation is to help us expand our local cancer services at the hospital," said Fisher.

"Currently we have waiting lists and quite a number of people that need treatment—that need to go to Regina in order to get it," added Fisher.

"This will help us expand the space that we have available and the services that we're able to provide. So we'll be able to expand chemo-therapies, immunotherapies, infusion therapies and that will bring services closer to home for people and make services more available and accessible," added Fisher.

"As soon as we do the expansion and open a new space we'll be able to jump the number of treatments by 60 per month, and it will grow so that we're doing an additional 350-400 patients a year," said Fisher.

Leone Ottenbreit said the donation was made possible through multiple fundraising efforts beyond their annual head-shaving event.

"It's an accumulative donation from our local cancer initiatives program. That program raises funds through barbecues, pancake breakfasts—any other things other than our head-shaving that we do the first Saturday of June," said Leone.

"Whatever we do throughout the year the money gets set aside for something to enrich the lives of local cancer patients and their families," added Leone, "when we heard about the Health Foundation doing the expansion for the Community Oncology program and the relocation of it within the hospital we said, 'you know what, that is something we are so behind.'"

"We really, really are excited about this improvement in cancer care for the patients in Yorkton and it will allow them to stay close to home. So if they're having to get their treatment they don't have to go to Regina or Saskatoon with the expensive travel. It's always comfortable to be in your own bed at night if you can be," said Leone.

This year marks the 28th annual Close Cuts for Cancer fundraiser, scheduled to take place June 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Parkland Mall.

Those interested in participating or volunteering can find more information on Facebook, Instagram and X under @cuts4cancer.

"We're going to be posting all of our information on how to sign up and how to join us as a volunteer or participant," said Leone.