Oct 6, 2015
Mrs. Jakki Jeffs
Executive Director
Alliance for Life Ontario
26 Norfolk St.
Guelph, ON N1H 4H8
Dear Mrs. Jakki Jeffs,
The Terry Fox Foundation appreciates the support of the Catholic community and understands the
concerns raised about human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research are very important. We take this
matter seriously and want to reassure you that in the eight years in which the Terry Fox Research
Institute has existed we have definitively never funded a project that has included embryonic stem cell
research.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada’s research agency that
defines the principles and code of ethics for all health research in this country. The fact that we
endorse CIHR guidelines does not mean that it is our policy to fund hESC research.
In May 2005, Darrell Fox communicated to the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops (OCCB) that we
have no plans to fund hESC. His commitment also addressed that if and when this position changed we
would inform the OCCB immediately. This position has not changed.
I hope this alleviates your concerns. We hope that you would communicate this message to any party
to which you may have sent misleading information regarding this important issue. Please know that
the teachers and students at Catholic Schools across the country organizing and participating in Terry
Fox runs have significantly improved health outcomes for cancer patients and their families across
Canada. We are truly grateful.
Sincerely,

Britt Andersen
Executive Director
The Terry Fox Foundation