100 Men Pool $13K for Cancer Support in Collingwood

When 100 men gathered for their quarterly meeting in March, they pooled their money and walked away having changed lives for cancer patients across Southern Georgian Bay.

100 Men Who Care Southern Georgian Bay voted to support the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre at their March 4 meeting. Each member contributed about $100, creating a collective donation of $13,843.

The giving circle works simply. Every three months, members nominate local charities, vote on which organization to support, and each write a check on the spot. No bureaucracy, no overhead, just immediate impact.

This donation comes at a crucial time. The Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre expanded to Collingwood in 2025 after local residents identified a gap in cancer services. The new physical location now serves Southern Georgian Bay residents who previously had to travel to North Simcoe for support.

"We are pleased to recognize the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre and support them in responding to the 2023 request of a group of Collingwood residents," said Bob Hughes, a leadership team member for the giving circle.

The cancer support centre offers over 70 hours of free services each month. Patients and their caregivers can access massage therapy, counseling, wig fittings, yoga, exercise classes, creative expression sessions, support groups, educational programs, traditional Indigenous healing, and financial assistance.

Every single service costs nothing. No patient is turned away for inability to pay.

Executive Director Dylan Lalande says the $13,843 will directly fund the expansion of services and programs at the Collingwood location. That means more appointment slots, more therapy hours, and more families getting support when they need it most.

The Ripple Effect

This donation does more than expand one cancer center. It demonstrates how collective giving can transform a community without requiring wealth from any single donor.

When 100 people each give what they can afford, they create change that none could achieve alone. The model is spreading across North America, proving that ordinary people pooling ordinary contributions can do extraordinary things.

For cancer patients in Collingwood, this means accessing care close to home during one of life's hardest challenges.