Hi, we are Jodi, Patrick, and Shawn and we are here in support of our best friend who on December 5th is scheduled to undergo surgery.

HE WHO HAS HEALTH HAS HOPE, AND HE WHO HAS HOPE HAS EVERYTHING.

- Thomas Carlyle

Our hope for our longtime friend, Jeff Woods (the one from the radio), is that he prevails in the face of a Prostate Cancer diagnosis.

Since May of this year, Jeff has undergone an extensive series of tests that determined he has Prostate Cancer, which has not yet spread beyond the prostate.

Now the time has come for Jeff to commence treatment. He is very fortunate to have access to the latest and most advanced treatment options. Rest assured that with treatment, his prognosis is excellent.

His best option, after consulting with his doctors and specialists, with time being of the essence, is a new, highly localized, precision surgical intervention that experts in this field widely consider the most advanced technique for people with Jeff’s stage of disease. This surgery requires very specialized (and expensive) technology that is quickly becoming the gold standard of care but that unfortunately is not yet widely available due to increased costs-to-treat and ongoing approval processes. For men with Jeff’s specific, localized cancer, this precision surgery also offers the strongest chance not only of a cure, but also significantly reduces the risk of longer term side effects including urological complications and helps preserve sexual function.

As someone who has written and talked openly about love, intimacy and sex, Jeff is not afraid to lift the veil of secrecy and fear around this important issue in men’s health, particularly as it relates to men’s sexual health, and to share his journey with his friends, readers and listeners. Further, with more men like Jeff choosing this targeted procedure, it strengthens the case for making it widely available and accessible for all men with early stage diagnosis.

Currently, most options for men with Prostate Cancer are limited to radiation and/or excision of all or substantial parts of the prostate, which carries much greater risks of urological and sexual complications. Recovery from these interventions is also longer and more debilitating, which is never easy for a self-employed independent broadcaster and podcaster like Jeff.

We are raising money to help Jeff access this groundbreaking surgery and support his post-op recovery. He has always been so generous to many of us, to many artists and bands in Canada and throughout the world, and he has been a consistent champion in highlighting issues of human sexuality and in combating stigma against the LGBTQ+ community. Hopefully we can now return the favour and support him through this. Any amount is both helpful and greatly appreciated.

The funding goal has been established to cover the cost of surgery ($24,000 Canadian) plus some additional funds for downtime and loss of income.

Your help, through donating whatever amount you are able to give, and sharing this fundraiser with friends who might help, will not only allow Jeff the access to the most advanced surgical intervention available but will also help break open the conversation about men’s health specific to prostate cancer. In other words, this is a movement to draw attention to this important issue challenging men. It’s a conversation Jeff is uniquely positioned to help lead, and he has the platform to support it.

Jeff’s message to men in middle age and beyond is this: Get screened (PSA test, digital rectal exam) and as they say, don’t die from embarrassment.

On behalf of Jeff Woods, as his friends and steadfast fans, we thank you for participating. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us or to Jeff if you have questions.

Patrick Ellard

Shawn Preece-Hall

Jodi Simonato