Brothers Double Fundraising Goal With Run for The Ribbon Charity Event

On Sunday morning, August 30th, two brothers lined up at the starting line of a 10-kilometer run with a target in mind: raise $10,000 for breast cancer research at the McGill University Health Centre. Benjamin Bensimon, a third-year medical student at McGill who plans to specialize in plastic surgery, and Samuel Bensimon, who works in finance, had organized the Run for The Ribbon event together. By the time the fundraising period closed, they had collected $21,000—more than double what they'd set out to achieve.

The additional momentum came from several sources, including a substantial $4,200 donation from the CURE Foundation. What began as an ambitious goal became a genuine community mobilization, drawing runners and supporters who brought their own reasons for showing up.

Among those at the starting line was Dr. Gabriel Kuper, a plastic surgery resident who had relocated from Toronto. His path to medicine was unconventional—he had dropped out of high school before eventually finding his way into medical training. He has built a notable social media presence, with 88,700 followers on Instagram. His presence at the event underscored the range of people the Bensimons had drawn together.

Joy Rodgers, a nurse, came to run and to share her story. Ten years earlier, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her treatment involved sixteen rounds of chemotherapy. The diagnosis led to genetic testing that revealed she carried a BRCA gene mutation, a finding that prompted her to undergo both a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy. The medical interventions were necessary but profound. "While there were bumps in the road, my family celebrated each anniversary," she reflected on her journey through treatment and recovery. She has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness, channeling her experience into work that helps others facing similar diagnoses.

Angela Lucia, who manages community events for the MUHC Foundation, watched the event unfold with relief and satisfaction. She had initially harbored doubts when the Bensimon brothers first approached her with their idea. "When they came to me with the idea I was nervous, but I knew they could do it," she said. "They have pulled the whole community together." What had seemed like an uncertain proposition had transformed into a demonstration of how two people with a clear goal and organizational capacity could activate a network of supporters—medical professionals, survivors, donors, and everyday runners—around a shared purpose.

The $21,000 raised will support both research into breast cancer and direct patient care at the McGill University Health Centre. The event itself became more than a fundraiser; it became a gathering point where medical students, practicing physicians, survivors, and community members stood together at a starting line, each carrying their own connection to the cause.