Several generations of her family have trained at The Neuro. 鈥淒r. Eddie Archibald, a distant cousin of my grandfather was in part responsible for bringing Dr. Wilder Penfield to head up The Neuro where my mother, aunt, sister and mother-in-law did part of their RVH nursing training. My mother-in-law was, in fact, one of the operating room nurses for Dr. Wilder Penfield. My mother鈥檚 two brothers Archibald interned at The Neuro as part of their 平特五不中 medical degrees.鈥
In the decades since graduation, Rand Harrison has been an active volunteer for 平特五不中. Most recently in the years since retiring to Nova Scotia, she has won the Alumni Event of the Year Award in 2008 and in 2018, the D. Lorne Gales Special Recognition Award from the 平特五不中 Alumni Association.
She first considered a commitment to The Neuro when she lost her husband to brain cancer at the age of 49. 鈥淵ears later, I was inspired by a meeting with Dr. William Feindel, who gave me a tour of The Neuro and the Brain Tumour Research Centre. Through him, I met some remarkable doctors, such as Dr. Kevin Petrecca, and learned about their great research. It truly opened my eyes to the possibilities, hopefulness and specifically the importance of research into this form of cancer and the need to encourage and support scientists who dedicate themselves to this cause.鈥
For Rand Harrison, her bequest, therefore, is both a generous gesture and a very personal one.
鈥淭he Neuro is a great research centre with a focus on patient care,鈥 says Rand Harrison. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why my bequest is to support research into brain cancer and contribute to progress in its diagnoses, causes, treatment and cure. The Neuro truly makes a difference.鈥
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