Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Miners for Cancer (MFC)

Miners for Cancer (MFC) is a registered, volunteer-driven charity founded in 1996 by miners in the Sudbury area. The organization partners with mining companies, suppliers, unions, businesses and schools across Northern Ontario to raise funds that are reinvested locally in cancer care. All money collected stays in the region and is directed to patient support, the purchase of critical medical equipment and cancer research linked to the Regional Cancer Program and the Northeast Cancer Centre.

Over the years, Miners for Cancer has created dedicated funding streams to structure its impact. The Supportive (Patient) Care Fund assists individuals diagnosed with cancer who are being treated within the Regional Cancer Program, helping relieve financial pressures that could limit access to recommended care. The Critical Equipment Fund is open to departments within the Regional Cancer Program, enabling them to request support for equipment purchases that directly enhance patient care and the clinical environment. The Cancer Research Fund targets full-time researchers working at the Regional Cancer Program, with funding provided through the Northern Cancer Foundation and reviewed regularly by the partners involved.

The charity’s funding primarily benefits cancer patients and their families in Northern Ontario, as well as the clinicians and researchers who serve them. Miners for Cancer emphasizes that every dollar entrusted to it is used for its intended purpose, whether to ease financial hardship for patients, upgrade tools and technology in cancer departments, or sustain nationally competitive research activity. The organization has raised well over one million dollars through its tournaments, raffles and galas, previously supporting the Northern Cancer Foundation and currently backing Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) alongside its internal funds.

MFC’s funding capacity is built through recurring community events such as the Allan Epps Memorial Hockey Challenge, golf and baseball tournaments, curling bonspiels, raffles and an annual Christmas gala. These activities are underpinned by tiered sponsorships from Platinum, Gold and Silver partners in the mining and service sectors, as well as media sponsors and local supporters. The board of directors, all volunteers, oversees governance, accountability and the allocation of proceeds to the various funds and partner foundations, ensuring transparent stewardship of donations and a strong link between fundraising outcomes and improvements in cancer care across the region.