Like the classic automobiles that he loved to restore, prostate cancer crusader Percy Bedard’s legacy is one that restores the determination that each of us has a voice to make a difference for the one in eight men affected by prostate cancer and their families.
During his time with
advanced prostate cancer, Percy credited a boost in his quality of life to the drug
Zytiga, describing how it made him feel so pain-free and invigorated that he could once again enjoy the things he used to love doing before his cancer had metastasized.
Access to the drug, however, was a hurdle for men in Percy’s condition. This was because the Ontario government had not approved coverage of the drug, making it too costly for a great many of those who needed it most.
For Percy, this was unacceptable. If there was a drug out there that helped put the living back in his life, it should be made available to all men who might benefit from it – no exceptions. To this end, he began a relentless grassroots campaign, including the circulation of petitions to the Ministry of Health in favour of Zytiga reimbursement at prostate cancer fundraising events, including
Cruisin’ for a Cure Canada. The Prostate Cancer Canada Network Brampton Support Group took part in the campaign. Over the course of time, the pile of newspaper clippings documenting Percy’s advocacy efforts began to grow, and approval was granted by the Ministry of Health in the fall of 2012.
A championship-winning goalie during his time as a hockey player, Percy most assuredly would have been first in line to take part in the
Protecting the 5 Hole campaign
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*In 2013, Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC) submitted feedback on Zytiga to the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR), of which PCC is a proud patient group member. pCODR was established to assess cancer drug therapies and make recommendations to guide drug-funding decisions. In considering expert feedback such as that of PCC, the pCODR Expert Review Committee ultimately recommended funding Zytiga.