Page 22 - Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre Annual Report 2023 to 2024

DONOR PROFILEDonor Profile: Joe and Averil Wiley
With sincere gratitude, the BTRC honours Joe and Averil Wiley for their generous support
through the Wiley Family Foundation, which has been targeted to fund preclinical work on
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) over the past five years. Their funding has been pivotal
in demonstrating how MRI-guided focused ultrasound can enhance drug delivery in experimental
DIPG models. This project, led by the Rutka lab, explores non-invasive ultrasound technology to
temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing chemotherapies and immune therapies to
better target the tumour and bolster the body’s immune response.
Q. Can you share an experience when the care
you received made a lasting impact on your family?
Dr. Rutka performed surgery on our 4-month-old
son, Andrew. Dr. Rutka and his team followed Andrew
through more surgeries and procedures with expert
care and compassion. We never worried about
Andrew’s outcomes because we knew that Dr. Rutka
and the entire BTRC team would deliver the best
possible outcome for us. Andrew is now 32 years old
and raising his own family.
Q. What drew you to the Brain Tumour Research
Centre, and what inspires you to support our work?
We began supporting Dr. Rutka and the BTRC team
shortly after Andrew’s first surgery. When your child
needs medical care, nothing else matters. Everything
Dr. Rutka and the BTRC team do demonstrates that
they understand and share the importance and
urgency of your child’s care. By doing our part, more
kids can get the world-class care they need –
whether it’s a cure, a treatment, or just more time.
These outcomes are invaluable. It has been a
privilege to do our part.
Joe and Averil Wiley visit the BTRC
Q. Outside of your philanthropic efforts,
what are some of your favourite hobbies or
pastimes that you enjoy doing together?”
Today, we support Dr. Rutka and the BTRC through
the Wiley Family Foundation, where our entire family
works collectively in support of our medical system.
Our work includes significant involvement with CAMH
and its efforts to fight the opioid crisis and Woman’s
College Hospital. Alongside our philanthropic efforts,
the family enjoys euchre, alpine skiing, and fitness
activities like running and strength training. The
arrival of our first grandchild has transformed our
family dynamics and revived our shared sense of joy,
wonder, and excitement!
Left to right: Rachael, Andrew, Averil, Joe, Tori and Eric
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IMAGINE 2023-24