25 Years of Fundraising, 25 Years of Impact: How One Survivor is Giving Back Through Research

In 1999, Dan Klimas’s life changed in an instant. A healthy, active 39-year-old with no history of illness, Dan was shocked when a lump under his arm turned out to be stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But what could have been a story of despair became one of survival—and ultimately, purpose.

“My doctor said, ‘We can’t cure it today, but we can get it under control,’” Dan recalls. “That word—control—gave me the strength I needed.”

Dan began an aggressive treatment plan over a two-year period: six cycles of chemotherapy, 30 days of radiation, and finally, an experimental stem cell transplant. Remarkably, his body responded exactly as predicted. “Everything they told me would happen—happened,” he says. “Because of that, they were able to use my case to help shape future treatments.”

One drug he received prior to his transplant proved so effective that it eventually became part of the standard treatment protocol. “That’s research,” he says. “And without research, I wouldn’t be here.”

But Dan didn’t stop at surviving—he started giving back.

What began as a small gesture—passing the hat during a golf lunch—quickly gained momentum. “That first year, we raised a few hundred dollars and donated it to cancer research,” says Dan. “More people joined the next year, and it kept growing.”

It was Dan’s close friend, Tony Arcaro, who said it: “We can do more with this.” And they did.

With renewed ambition, the small gathering evolved into a full-scale event. They started adding unique touches—like raffles, sponsor tables, and eventually, an unforgettable guest: a replica of Michael Schumacher’s Formula 1 Ferrari parked right on the course. “That was the year everything changed,” says Dan. “People started to see this as more than a fundraiser—it was an experience.”

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Drive for the Cure has raised over $1.5 million for cancer research at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) through the MUHC Foundation. The tournament sells out every year and has become a fixture in the community, not just for its fun atmosphere, but for the meaningful impact it continues to make.

And the giving doesn’t stop when the golf season ends.

Every winter, Dan and his community organize Score for the Cure, a ball hockey tournament that brings together over 200 people of all ages. What began as a friendly match between teenagers and their parents has grown into a vibrant annual event focused on awareness, connection, and grassroots support for cancer research. “It’s a way to include families and people who might not golf but still want to make a difference,” Dan explains.

Dr. Margaret Warner, Dan’s hematologist at the MUHC, sees the impact of fundraising champions like Dan every day. “Now is one of the best times to consider supporting blood disorders research,” she says. “We’re witnessing daily breakthroughs with treatments like CAR T-cell therapy, gene therapy, even CRISPR therapy, and targeted immunotherapies—innovations that were science fiction just a few years ago. Funding through the MUHC Foundation gives MUHC patients early access to life-changing treatments that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.”

For Dan, these events remain deeply personal—but also deeply hopeful.

“Every year, I look around and see the faces of people who care,” he says. “Some are here because they’ve lost someone. Some because they’ve survived. All of us are here because we believe in one thing: research saves lives.”

“After 25 years, Dan’s impact is undeniable. What began as a diagnosis has become a legacy—a powerful reminder that one person, fueled by gratitude and surrounded by community, can help change the future of healthcare,” says Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation.

The MUHC Foundation is paving the way to a future where blood cancers and rare congenital disorders are no longer deadly diseases—offering patients like Dan not only hope, but the promise of more tomorrows.

You can be a part of this new era in cancer research by donating to the MUHC Foundation today.