Published September 22, 2026
It was 2019 and Ted and Margaret Riley had recently arrived home from a trip to Asia when Ted was diagnosed with stage 3 tonsillar cancer. He was quickly referred to Dr. Scott Bratman, a radiation oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and the Dr. Mariano Antonio Elia Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Research.
Ted's treatment plan included 35 rounds of radiation, five days a week, and six sessions of chemotherapy. Over the course of this intensive treatment, the Rileys developed a close relationship with Dr. Bratman and his team, gaining a deeper understanding of their research and an appreciation for its implications for cancer patients like Ted.
Ted and Margaret learned that the team's focus was on developing innovative tools to detect certain high-risk head and neck cancers at their earliest stages and treat them in less-invasive ways.
Two years later and with Ted declared cancer-free, the Rileys made a gift through their family foundation to support MERIDIAN, a clinical trial led by Dr. Bratman and his team. The trial monitors patients who are in remission but remain at high risk of relapse by measuring circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) levels in a patient's blood.
"The ability to help progress the advancements happening at The Princess Margaret is extremely important to us. Dr. Bratman is clearly passionate about his work, and we are grateful that we can support his efforts," said Ted.
Now, their commitment to The Princess Margaret continues with a further generous $1 million gift, this time supporting MOSAIC, the next phase of Dr. Bratman's research. The Rileys' renewed support of the trial demonstrates their commitment to supporting multiple key priorities of Carry The Fire, Canada's largest cancer fundraising campaign, from detecting cancer at stage 0 to developing novel treatments that move beyond chemotherapy and have the potential to transform outcomes for patients.
"Research is a long and winding road. It's an evolving process, and it needs ongoing funding to reach the next level and prove its potential. We knew we should continue our support because Dr. Bratman's work will save and prolong lives," said Ted.
MOSAIC is focused on advancing precision modelling and personalized medicine to develop innovative treatments for head and neck cancers. By helping researchers better understand the unique characteristics of an individual patient's cancer, the study aims to inform more precise approaches to care and open new possibilities for patients in the future.
For Ted and Margaret, giving is both an expression of gratitude and an investment in what comes next. "We're very proud to support cancer research and the advancements we know are coming. The Princess Margaret is going to do great things with our donation."
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is deeply grateful for the Rileys' ongoing support to the cancer research, treatment, and care that is improving and saving the lives of cancer patients across Canada and around the world.