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Our Campaign: Peter Gzowski Fund

Donate today to the Peter Gzowski Fund COPD: a growing problem COPD research that's improving quality of life Donors who are joining the fight against COPD Peter Gzowski: the man who made it happen Alison Gzowski on her father's illness

It was a Canadian ritual. Mothers at home with small children, salespeople travelling to appointments, office workers and many others tuned their radios to CBC at 9 a.m. every week day morning.

The voice they all anticipated lacked the mellifluous honeyed tones of a typical radio announcer. It was a gravelly, smoky voice – one that had, it seemed, seen the world yet retained its joie de vivre and appreciation for all things truly Canadian. It was the voice of Peter Gzowski.

As he later wrote with commendable frankness, Peter was a heavy smoker for many years and eventually became ill with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Like thousands of other Ontarians, Peter came to West Park Healthcare Centre for treatment of his condition. He participated in our innovative inpatient and outpatient services, learning to breathe again so that he could return to his busy life as a journalist. He was deeply touched by the compassionate care he received at West Park, which he affectionately called his “Breathing Academy.”

Sadly, in January 2002, Peter passed away due to complications brought about by this disease.

How you can help others with COPD

Since Peter’s death, West Park has launched a special appeal to raise a minimum of $1 million to create the Peter Gzowski Fund to support the centre’s programs for COPD. This fund, named in tribute to Peter by West Park with the support of his family, will finance new program activities, patient and family education and research into new treatments of COPD.

• The fund will be held as a permanent endowment, with an initial available annual income of $40,000.
  
• Each year, an established advisory committee will determine which projects will be supported. Projects may include:
  
  • Start-up funds for new research projects, to allow them to reach the point where they can attract peer-reviewed grant funding
  • Clinical release time for physicians and nurses to allow them to participate in research
  • Funding to support the development of new or enhanced inpatient and out-patient care programs
  • New education programs for patients and their families and friends
  • Updates to equipment and technology, to improve the quality of care

Ultimately, the Peter Gzowski Fund will help West Park maintain its international leadership in the field of COPD management, and improve the quality of life for all Canadians living with this disease.

To join the fight against COPD and continue Peter’s desire to raise awareness about the disease, please donate today to the Peter Gzowski Fund.