Toast of the Town Raises Nearly $900,000, Completing Equipment Needed to Bring CAR T-Cell Therapy to Alberta
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Terry O’Flynn,Toast of the Town honouree. Photo Credit: Gord Deeks Photography
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The Toast of the Town evening gala event achieved a historic milestone this year, raising over $650,000 in one night to purchase the final two pieces of equipment required to bring CAR T-cell treatment and research permanently to the Cross Cancer Institute and Alberta.
The achievement marks a turning point in Alberta’s cancer-care landscape and reflects the extraordinary generosity of Edmontonians and supporters across northern Alberta, who opened their hearts to a cause that will begin saving lives immediately.
A subsequent companion fundraiser added an additional $220,000 to the amount raised and will be invaluable in purchasing one final piece to the Made in Alberta solution, the Mycoplasma Testing machine.
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A Province-Wide Effort to Change Cancer Care
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As Toast of the Town became part of the Cure Cancer Foundation, fundraising partners across the organization rallied behind the vision. Over the last year, through the Glenn Anderson Day of Golf, the World’s Longest Hockey Game and the Toast of the Town events, campaigns, and community leadership, the collective effort raised more than $2.8 million to bring CAR T-cell therapy to Alberta.
The final equipment is now funded, clearing the last barrier to establishing CAR T-Cell treatment and research permanently at the Cross Cancer Institute. This advancement will allow up to twelve times more cancer patients to receive treatment – and in significantly shorter timeframes.
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CAR T Cell Therapy Update
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Toast of the Town Committee Members with a CliniMACS Prodigy Machine
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The Cross Cancer Institute recently welcomed members of the Toast of the Town committee for a tour of the new CAR-T cell immunotherapy lab and provided an update on the equipment made possible through donor support.
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- Four of the eight pieces of equipment that the CCF raised funds for have been purchased. Two of the Clinimacs Prodigy machines are being used.
- The XCELLigence Platform is also being utilized for myeloma research, with trials about to begin. The added piece of equipment to the list was the MYCOPLASMA Tester. It is critical to do one of the final Quality Assurance checks before the cells can be reintroduced to the patient. Currently, only BC can perform the test.
- With the new equipment already in place, the team has the ability to treat up to 3 “eligible” patients per month. That includes Lymphoma, Leukemia, and the new clinical trial protocols that are being validated for myeloma.
- The other equipment will be purchased, and the growth of the programs and trials will progress over the next few months, with the completion of the new labs and research facility.
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The Toast group was also informed that, with the new equipment, eligible patients can now be treated with CAR-T cell immunotherapy in just 15 days — much faster than the previous process, which required cells to be frozen, shipped to the United States for treatment, and then returned to Alberta.
The staff also noted that it can take up to eight months for each machine to be deemed safe and approved for treating patients. This is a process mandated by Health Canada to ensure patient safety. Having the machines now allows that verification process to begin.
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A Community That Showed Up for Its Own
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CliniMACS Prodigy Machine
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The 2026 Toast of the Town events have showcased the best of Edmonton and northern Alberta – compassion, generosity, and a shared belief in building a healthier future. Guests gave with open hearts, knowing their support would begin saving lives almost immediately.
The success of this year’s Toast of the Town is more than a fundraising achievement. It is the culmination of eight years of vision, partnership, and unwavering commitment. It is a promise fulfilled. It is a legacy that will change cancer care in Alberta for generations.
We are committed to keeping our donors updated as new and exciting milestones are achieved, and you can expect to see similar posts in the future.
With Heartfelt Gratitude
Barrie Stafford, Darin Stuckey, and the Toast of the Town Committee
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