Concert to raise funds for cancer research

By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on April 24, 2024.

STARS photo Broc Higginson, organizer of the Concert to Fight Cancer, sits in a STARS helicopter that transported him for emergency treatment in his own battle with brain cancer.

A concert at Southminster United Church on May 3 is being staged to raise funds for cancer research.

“There are very few people that can say that they have not felt cancer impact their life. We all know someone, either a friend, colleague or family member that has cancer or lost their life to cancer,” said concert organizer Broc Higginson in an interview.

“Having brain cancer myself, I have seen too many loved ones negatively impacted from this awful disease. We are working hard to share with as many people as possible in Lethbridge our upcoming charity concert.”

The Concert to Fight Cancer will begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7. All ages are welcome, and the event has free admission but donations can be made at the concert which will feature the Cody Hall Band, Trevor Panczak and the LCI Gold Jazz Band.

Higginson shared statistics of cancer rates in Canada and percentage is expected to increase.

“The fact that it’s now the leading cause of death in Canada, and it eclipsed heart disease here a while ago. And it’s been responsible for 30 per cent of those that died in Canada and is expected to climb to 40 per cent over the next 15 years,” he said.

All money donated at the event will be directly donated to Foothills Hospital in Calgary for cancer research.

Higginson said another reason for holding the concert is to help identify why cancer is increasing within Canada.

“One of the reasons why we’re hosting this event is in order to try to figure out what’s causing it so we can obviously combat it.”

Higginson also voiced the need to support Alberta health care workers.

“I think that big focus needs to be on that the people that we have working in these areas, whether it be, radiology oncologists, medical oncologists, or surgeons.

They’re so good at what they do. And they’re great people, and they can only do so much with the resources that they have. And so, to be able to support them in any way we can,” said Higginson.