$1 Million Donation to Establish InspireHealth Clinic in Kamloops

Strategic Insights -

A significant donation of $1 million has been made to establish an InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care Clinic in Kamloops, B.C. The announcement was made at an event attended by local First Nations, Interior Health board members, dignitaries, and members of Kamloops City Council. Anthony Salituro, founder of the Pink Ribbon Charity Ball, made the donation in partnership with the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation and the Kamloops Cancer Supportive Care Society.

Anthony Salituro's cancer fundraising journey began in 1998 when his Aunt Josephine had recently survived breast cancer. He told her about the idea that would become the Pink Ribbon Charity Ball. For the next 16 years, the Pink Ribbon Ball grew into Kamloops' premiere fundraising event, raising $1 million in support of the Canada Breast Cancer Foundation. Salituro decided to continue his philanthropy work and, in 2017, met with Heidi Coleman, the CEO of the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation. They agreed to raise another million dollars for Cancer care in Kamloops. In just four years, barring an interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they reached their goal.

The InspireHealth clinic will provide free support for the physical, emotional, and mental health of patients with any type of cancer and any stage of cancer, right from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond. The clinic will offer one-on-one consultations and group programs, with a team consisting of a cancer care psychologist, a clinic counsellor, a registered dietitian, and an exercise therapist.

Key Takeaways:

  • A $1 million donation has been made to establish an InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care Clinic in Kamloops, B.C.
  • The donation was made by Anthony Salituro, founder of the Pink Ribbon Charity Ball, in partnership with the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation and the Kamloops Cancer Supportive Care Society.
  • Salituro has been involved in cancer fundraising since 1998, starting with his Aunt Josephine's breast cancer journey.
  • The Pink Ribbon Ball raised $1 million in support of the Canada Breast Cancer Foundation and then aimed to raise another million dollars for Cancer care in Kamloops.
  • The InspireHealth clinic will offer comprehensive programming to support the physical, emotional, and mental health of patients with any type of cancer and any stage of cancer.
  • The clinic will provide one-on-one consultations and group programs, with a team consisting of a cancer care psychologist, a clinic counsellor, a registered dietitian, and an exercise therapist.
  • Ann McCarthy, a 20-year cancer survivor, has been treated as a whole person and credits supportive care from InspireHealth for her ability to thrive despite cancer.
  • The Kamloops Cancer Supportive Care Society has worked hard to bring an InspireHealth clinic to Kamloops, with the goal of providing accessible supportive care to the community.

Statistics:

  • $1 million donation made to establish the InspireHealth clinic in Kamloops.
  • 16 years of fundraising for the Pink Ribbon Ball, raising $1 million for the Canada Breast Cancer Foundation.
  • 4 years spent raising another million dollars for Cancer care in Kamloops.
  • 20 years of Ann McCarthy's cancer journey, with supportive care playing a significant role in her ability to thrive.
  • The InspireHealth clinic will provide free support to patients with any type of cancer and any stage of cancer.

Sources:

  • 100 Mile House Free Press, "$1 million donation to open InspireHealth clinic in Kamloops", 2025.