VANCOUVER - Maureen Kempston Darkes, president and general manager of General Motors of Canada Limited, addressed a group of key business leaders in Vancouver today deliver a personal message and to make an investment in the future health of Canadians.

Ms. Kempston Darkes today announced that General Motors of Canada and GM Foundation have committed $1 million as a global corporate gift to the BC Cancer Foundation's Millennium Campaign. This campaign will fund a new cancer research centre and support cancer research at the BC Cancer Research Centre and the BC Cancer Agency, which together form one of the world's leading cancer treatment and research institutions. Ms. Kempston Darkes is a co-chair of the Millennium Campaign, along with Youssef A. Nasr, president and CEO of HSBC Bank Canada.

"As Canadians, we are fortunate to live in a country that is committed to bettering the health of its citizens," said Kempston Darkes. "At General Motors, we are committed to providing support for cancer research as a key philanthropic activity. We are donating one million dollars to the Millennium Campaign and together, we will turn the dream of eradicating cancer into the reality of a cure."

"I am excited to be a part of a research program that is galvanizing the attention of the world's leading scientists, she said. "Scientists like Michael Smith, Victor Ling, and Marco Marra are dedicated to this research facility, and we are grateful they have chosen to bring their expertise to Canada, when in fact, they could have taken it anywhere in the world."

The BC Cancer Research Centre is home to nine cancer laboratories and more than 250 scientific staff. The Millennium Campaign includes funding for the development of the Genome Sequence Centre, the only gene science centre dedicated to finding causes, treatments and cures for cancer.

Research into the building blocks of life during the past 25 years has revealed that cancer is the outcome of miscues in the genes in our cells. Scientists are now shining a "flashlight' into the black box" of our unknown genetic makeup. Discovering which genes to target for new cancer treatment and prevention strategies is the primary task of the GSC.

Dr. Marco Marra, associate director of the Genome Sequence Centre, spoke today about the impact genome science will have on cancer research. "Today's cancer therapies are successful for only a fraction of patients. Genomics will help us discover how cancer begins in the first place. This knowledge will lead to better treatments for patients who have cancer, as well as ways to identify and treat patients who are likely to develop cancer," he said. "Genomics information will also contribute to new strategies in all aspects of cancer management - prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. Our research will enable us to enhance the effectiveness of current cancer therapies, as well as find new ways to combat this terrible disease."

Other major investments were also announced today. HSBC Bank Canada, TELUS and Clarica (formerly known as Mutual Group) have also made donations to the Millennium Campaign. HSBC announced a gift of $750,000 and TELUS announced its gift of $300,000. Clarica has also committed $300,000 to the campaign.

"I came to Vancouver in 1995 to work with what I believed to be the best researchers in Canada, and in fact, the world," said Dr. Victor Ling, vice president of research at the BC Cancer Agency. "We are grateful to General Motors for this wonderful gift, which not only goes a long way to help our campaign, but also shows British Columbia, and indeed all of Canada, your faith in the work being done at the BC Cancer Agency and Research Centre."

The BC Cancer Agency provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Research Centre conducts research into the causes and cures for cancer. The BC Cancer Foundation has a mandate to raise funds to support the work of the Agency and Research Centre, for a world without fear of cancer.