The Heather Cutler Foundation Announces First Targeted Patient Grants and Fundraising Drive for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Atlantic Canada

In a special two-hour live regional update, The Heather Cutler Foundation has announced the launch of its first patient-focused grant aimed at easing the financial burden on Canadians who must travel from remote and rural communities to urban cancer centres for treatment. The new initiative, titled Port to Care, will provide $500 in travel relief to eligible Canadians living with pancreatic cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador. The grant is designed to address the growing inequities faced by those outside metro regions, where access to diagnostics, treatment options, and clinical trials remains severely limited. The Foundation also announced the beginning of its From Coast to Cure fundraising campaign, with the goal of launching a dedicated research grant in 2026. This grant will prioritize pancreatic cancer research led in and for Atlantic Canada, with a focus on early detection, rural healthcare delivery, and inclusive clinical trial access. The live update also included a sweeping overview of the systemic barriers faced by Canadians living with pancreatic cancer in Atlantic provinces — from the near-absence of clinical trials in Newfoundland and Labrador, to inconsistent access to genetic and molecular testing, to the need for palliative care reform and earlier conversations around treatment options. The Heather Cutler Foundation, based in Newfoundland and Labrador, has quickly emerged as a bold and disruptive voice in pancreatic cancer advocacy. With a focus on transparency, accountability, and lived experience, the Foundation is building a movement for policy change and equitable care from the ground up. For more information about Port to Care, the From Coast to Cure research campaign, or the Foundation’s ongoing policy initiatives, visit www.heathercutler.ca or contact 1-866-967-0873.