The Thompson Regional Hospital District will be ending its Cancer Won’t Wait advocacy campaign in mid-September.

That is according to TNRD External Relations and Advocacy Advisor, Corbin Kelley, who said the campaign will have a big presence at Kamloops Ribfest this August before coming to an end about a month before the provincial election.

“However, messaging will be shared to keep residents and voters engaged on the importance of the Kamloops Cancer Centre likely in ways of an election tool kit that folks will be able to use respecting those who are running in the provincial election and their commitments to the Kamloops Cancer Centre,” Kelley said.

The TRHD awarded a $75,000 contract for a ten-month long campaign to consulting firm Santis Health last November.

“The proponents that the regional hospital district has acquired to sort of run the campaign have collected a number of patients stories from those who have direct experience with cancer care or the lack thereof in the Thompson region,” Kelley said,” noting those stories are posted to the campaign website.

The Cancer Won’t Wait campaign was created to call on the B.C. government to finally deliver on its promise to build Kamloops Cancer Centre, which is expected to open in 2028.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the company that will build the facility at RIH is expected to be chosen by May of next year, with construction set to get underway shortly after that.