World Cancer Day: 10 years of ‘the Bell’ Fund supporting Montreal MUHC cancer patients

For the past 10 years, anyone walking through the cancer ward at the MUHC may have heard a bell—one rung by patients marking the end of their treatment.

On World Cancer Day, the Cedars Cancer Foundation is hosting a public lecture not only to highlight the importance of personalized cancer care but also to celebrate a decade of the Bell‑ringing program and the comfort kits that have supported more than 12,000 newly diagnosed patients.

“It makes a tremendous difference in the life of our patients. Our volunteers are the ones that bring the kit to the patients most of the time they’re completely surprised and they’re and they’re going through chemotherapy many of them cry when they get the kit,” said Anna Burgos, co-director of Cedars CanSupport.

In June 2012, Judy Martin was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She fought for 15 months—and won. During her chemotherapy treatments, she realized that no one celebrated the end of their treatments. This didn’t feel right to her.

“What prompted me for the bell was there was no celebration of any kind when a patient left the chemo room, and I watched that for 15 months, so I mentioned it to a Toronto friend; she told me her mom rang a bell at Princess Margaret. I researched it, and sure enough, they had the bravery bell,” Martin explained.

Burgos added, “For them, it’s in a complete accomplishment after they’ve had you know maybe 20 rounds of radiation or six rounds of chemo for them it’s a real, it’s a big moment and often the families come on that same day and they ring the bell, it’s a joyous, it’s a joyous experience for them.”

One of our greatest partnerships is with schools. Children write what we call a ‘Get better’ card and when the patients read it, they often cry. Not that there is a long message in it, but they think “Oh my gosh the kids have done this for us. How nice of them to think of us!” and so it’s a teaching moment for the kids. It’s the sense of community that I’m most proud,” said Martin.

Cedars CanSupport, part of the MUHC’s Supportive and Palliative Care Division, provides free emotional, educational, and practical support to cancer patients and their families—thanks to a dedicated team of professional staff and volunteers.

Launched on World Cancer Day in 2016, ‘the Bell’ Fund set out with an initial goal of raising one million dollars—a target that has since been smashed.

“Judy is an incredible she’s what she’s done she’s raised over two million dollars for this for ‘The Bell’ Fund for Comfort kits—promoting people to ring the bell. She makes sure that cancer patients are recognized and that they’re not alone,” said Burgos.

Martin added, “I am very proud that the bell will stay in the hospital forever, long after I am gone. I am very proud that the comfort kit is doing its job in making people feel less alone. So really, that is what I hope the legacy is, that people will feel embraced and never alone.”