On Giving Tuesday We Give Thanks

Giving Tuesday is described as the world’s largest generosity movement.

On the Tuesday following American Thanksgiving, people are encouraged to express their generosity and make a difference in their community.

Each year for Giving Tuesday, Lakeridge Health Foundation recognizes the community members and hospital staff who represent our most dedicated supporters.

Today, on December 2, we would like to recognize the recipients of our Community Champion, Hospital Champion, and Youth in Philanthropy Awards.

The Community Champion is a person or group who embodies the spirit of philanthropy by demonstrating an outstanding commitment to Lakeridge Health Foundation and being an advocate for health care in Durham Region.

This year, our Foundation is proud to celebrate Alison Simpson and her family, the organizers of Gerry’s Tartan Army.

Ali and her family began their fundraising efforts in 2019 when her father, Gerry, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the time, the Canadian Cancer Society held a fundraiser called “Plaid for Dad” to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research. The event was held on the Friday before Father’s Day, with participants being encouraged to wear plaid to show their support.

In 2023, Gerry’s Tartan Army brought their fundraising efforts to Lakeridge Health Foundation in recognition of the care Gerry was receiving at the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre (DRCC).

“Dad had such an incredible team caring for him throughout his illness,” Ali recalls. “He held a strong trust in his team, and this was our way of saying thank you, while also continuing to help other families throughout their cancer journey.”

Gerry passed away peacefully at his home in November 2024. In his honour, Ali and her family continue to hold their annual “Plaid for Dad” event each June. Since 2023, the team has raised $11,250 in support of cancer care at Lakeridge Health. You can learn more about their story here.

“Our family will never forget the care the staff in DRCC gave to our dad and the support our family has received,” Ali says. “We are dedicated to helping you continue doing such excellent work for the people and community we love.”

The Hospital Champion recognizes a staff member or team at Lakeridge Health who goes above and beyond to raise funds and awareness for our Hospital.

This year, our Foundation is thrilled to recognize a very special couple: Dr. Arun and Dr. Soania Mathur.

For many years, Arun and Soania have loyally stepped forward to support our Foundation.

In 2024, Soania completed a full term as a member of Lakeridge Health Foundation’s Board of Directors, also serving as Chair of the Development and Communications Committee.

Arun has been quick to lend his support whenever the Foundation has reached out, posing for photos, recording voiceovers, and even being interviewed for an episode of our podcast!

Both are passionate advocates for ensuring patients throughout Durham Region and beyond have access to comprehensive health care. They also stepped forward as Cabinet Members for Our Cancer Campaign, helping us raise more than $21 million for cancer care in our community.

“I have lived and worked here for 29 years,” says Arun. “This hospital has given me a career, our kids were born here, and our family receives care here. It’s the least we can do to stand up and help build a community.”

“This is a huge honour for us,” says Soania. “Not only this hospital and this community, but the Foundation and the team behind it mean so much to us.”

Our Youth in Philanthropy Award was created in 2021 to recognize a child or youth who stepped forward to support local health care. This year, the award recognizes Alexandra Chao-Lau and Esther Tan.

Alexandra and Esther built a multi-event fundraising strategy in support of cancer care at Lakeridge Health called “Fight for a Future”. The project was part of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).

The project focused on three goals: educate 500+ people on the impact of cancer in Durham Region, raise $1,000 in support of cancer care, and help 5,000 patients through the funding of equipment and other patient care priorities.

Alexandra’s and Esther’s hard work paid off, as “Fight for a Future” surpassed each of its goals.

“When we started, we didn’t imagine our work would take us this far. It started from a small idea,” Esther explains. “As we continued hosting events and raising money, it ended up growing into something so much more meaningful than we expected.”

The pair were invited to present on “Fight for a Future” at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando. They have also decided to fund special software and tablets that will help bridge potential communication gaps between cancer patients and their physicians in DRCC.

“This project is a reminder that support can go a long way,” says Alexandra. “Fight for a Future encouraged us to keep going, to keep contributing, and to continue finding ways to give back to the people around us.

Congratulations to Gerry’s Tartan Army, Drs. Arun and Soania Mathur, and Alexandra and Esther, on receiving the 2025 Giving Tuesday Awards.