Goodbye to a long-time friend, hello to a new Chair
Today is a bittersweet day. We are saying goodbye to a long-time friend and passionate volunteer and we are welcoming a new Chair to the Foundation Board of Directors.
After eighteen incredible years of fervent, selfless service to kids and families dealing with childhood cancer, Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation's Co-Founder Jeff Rushton is stepping down as a Board Director for Childhood Cancer Canada to make room for some diversity and new thinking. As always Jeff will remain available and will always be our co-founder.
When Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation and Childhood Cancer Canada began our unification in 2019, Jeff agreed to stay on the board through the unification to help ensure its success. Jeff not only kept this promise, he extended his board term when the pandemic hit, highlighting his dedication to the Foundation, our mission, and the needs of the childhood cancer community.
Jeff's passion for supporting children with cancer and their families goes back to Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation's start in 2003, with the first National Kids Cancer Ride. Through the years his charisma, warm smile, and giant hugs have become legendary and are deserving of a highlight reel as we say thank you and so-long to the legend himself, Jeff Rushton.
We would also like to take a moment to thank Patrick Sullivan for his role as Board Chair on the Board of Directors for the past three years. It's been a challenging three years, through both a merger and a pandemic, and we would not have weathered it as well were it not for Patrick's thoughtful, strategic approach and infectious can-do attitude.
Patrick will remain on the Board of Directors as Past Chair, and we are grateful to have his continued passion and dedication in honour of his son Finn.
As Patrick steps into the Past Chair position, we are pleased to announce our new Board Chair, Matthew von Teichman.
Matthew is a long-time entrepreneur having founded nine businesses, sold four, and taken several public. He's a passionate believer in innovation, collaboration and creativity and brings significant enthusiasm to the cause.
Matthew has been a Board Director at Childhood Cancer Canada since 2013 and founded one of Childhood Cancer Canada's most important fundraisers, Clay's for Kids in 2015, which has raised close to $1 million in 6 years.
He's the twenty year husband of Jasmin and father of two testing teenagers. A passionate sports enthusiast, Matthew can be found playing golf, tennis and squash, as well as skiing, snowshoeing, biking, reading and travelling (when borders are open).
“Childhood Cancer Canada has been a huge part of my life for the last 10 years. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of the most remarkable kids who battled cancer, many of whom are alive to tell the tale of their struggles, and tragically some that are not. The hope and support that the Foundation provides kids and their families when battling this devastating illness, is what motivates me to keep increasing my involvement.”
Please join us in welcoming Matt as our new Board Chair. We know he will do a tremendous job for families dealing with childhood cancer.
While transitions and goodbyes are always difficult, we continue to be inspired by passionate volunteers like Jeff, Patrick, and Matt who ensure our ability to fulfill our mission for kids with cancer in Canada.