Toronto book club members Emily Babiak, Christine Biggar, Sara Street and Susan Culver initiated the idea of Read for the Cure in 2006. Their story is one many can relate to: they were all touched by cancer in one way or another. They battled it themselves, or witnessed other book club members or loved ones struggling with it.
They harnessed their collective energy and passion for reading and approached Penguin Random House with their ideas on bringing readers and writers together to raise money for cancer research. Read for the Cure was launched in 2007 and is now an established series of literary evenings with best-selling authors that raise funds for cancer research. Since its inception, Read for the Cure has hosted events in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa and has raised $1.35 million for cancer research. In 2018, Montreal is being added to the roster.
Proceeds raised from these events support research on the environmental links to cancer. The Environment Cancer Fund of the Cancer Research Society aims to demonstrate how factors such as living and working conditions affect one’s risk of developing cancer and how it can be prevented or detected.
Each event features three authors who speak about their work and provide audience members with interesting “behind-the-scenes” details and anecdotes. Our emcees are media personalities who expertly engage the authors in a lively discussion.
Read for the Cure is the perfect occasion to get together with your book loving friends for a fun evening. Share a drink and a bite to eat before the program starts.
That’s right. Thanks to the commitment of our preferred partner, Penguin Random House, you will be able to take home a copy of the authors’ latest releases. So even if you haven’t had the chance to read up on your favorite writer’s book before the event, you’ll be able to catch up soon after!
100 per cent of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to funding Canada’s most promising cancer researchers.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the country. There have been some amazing advancements throughout the years thanks to research, but the fight is not over. And we’re not giving up as we truly believe that our best weapon to outsmart cancer is research. And with your help, we can make a difference!
Since 2007, many award-winning authors have participated in Read for the Cure. See here the list of authors who have been part of the Read for the Cure adventure:
The events have been emceed by well-known media personalities such as: