Dear Friend,

Thank you in advance for considering a meaningful gift to my efforts in raising funds for the Liver Canada Holiday Leadership Campaign! I have set an ambitious goal of $5,000.

You perhaps know that I am on the National Board of Directors for Liver Canada (formerly known as the Canadian Liver Foundation) - the largest, most comprehensive (and FIRST of its kind to exist in Canada to fight a disease nationally) charitable organization to combat all liver diseases on all fronts. 

I am not simply raising funds for this campaign because I am on the Board or because I believe passionately in Liver Canada’s Vision for a world without liver disease. 

I am doing this for the thousands of communities affected by health inequities, for you, for that person in your golf foursome, the person in your bridge game, tennis doubles, your neighbour and someone in your family affected by liver disease RIGHT NOW.

This also puts a fire in me (and hopefully you):

1 in 4 of all Canadians are affected by liver disease

• 1 in 4 adults Canadian adults have MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD)

• 25% of Canadians with MASLD will progress to MASH, medically linked to issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and more. Untreated it leads to severe complications such as liver scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis, and liver cancer

• A majority of Canadians- your family, friends, and neighbours- feel no symptoms as many liver diseases progress, often until it can be almost too late to mitigate liver damage

Please give generously and if you feel you may have risk factors- get screened/tested. Remember the “I in 4”.

Mary Anne and I have decided to donate $2,500 personally, partially because Mary Anne has been diagnosed with MASLD.

Happy Holidays and thank you for giving.

Gratefully,

Gary Hokkanen

Board Member and Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee