Pictured: Participants at the 2025 Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer event. Started in 2022, the event rallies Nova Scotians to raise funds for local brain cancer research at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Over the event's four-year history, nearly $100,000 has been raised. Photo credit: DB Studio HFX.
Nova Scotia has one of the highest rates of brain cancer in Canada. And the disease is almost universally fatal.
“It’s a devastating diagnosis for patients and families,” says Dr. Adrienne Weeks, QEII neurosurgeon, Associate Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery, and co-chair of neuro-oncology.
But together, our community is rallying year after year to help change tomorrow for those facing one of the world’s deadliest cancers.
What started as a modest event in a local gym, born from a desire to help future patients, has grown into a powerful movement propelling brain cancer research at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
This August 2025 marked Round 4 of the Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer, raising an incredible $39,691 through the QEII Foundation to support brain cancer research in Nova Scotia. Across the event’s four-year history, nearly $100,000 has been raised by neighbours, friends, colleagues, and businesses in Nova Scotia.
Founded by Jordan Forbes, personal trainer at Blended Athletics, the Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer stemmed from profound personal loss. In the span of just one year, Jordan lost three close connections to brain cancer – Rob, Robyn, and Rick. This heartbreaking blow inspired him to rally our local community to create a deeply meaningful fundraising event to help support future Nova Scotians affected by brain cancer.
During each Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer, people form teams to raise funds through the QEII Foundation for brain cancer research. Then, they compete in a series of fun workouts on the main event day hosted at Blended Athletics, ending with a community gathering reflecting on the impact and remembering loved ones lost to the disease.
Jordan hoped the event would grow year after year – and that vision is coming true. This year’s Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer expanded to include several other initiatives, all fueling the main fundraiser.
In July 2025, the Cash for Calories initiative meant that every dollar raised that month would be one calorie burned by participants for an astounding $20,000 raised and 20,000 calories burned collectively during one evening before the main event day. Piece Out Brain Cancer, started together by Jordan’s sister and his wife, attracted puzzle enthusiasts in a speed competition for $3,500 raised in one night.
A running event, raffles, corporate and community sponsorship matches and donations, and even a professional speaker series added to the growth of Round 4.
“It’s bringing the community together from runners to crossfitters, puzzle makers and people that just like to go to the gym. Everybody started to get involved, and this year we were absolutely blown away,” says Jordan.
He’s deeply moved by this outpouring of community support.
“I’m proud that everybody in the community comes together to support this event that’s very near and dear to my heart. Proud isn’t a big enough word.”
Pictured: (L) Jordan Forbes and staff from Blended Athletics proudly display the $39,691 fundraising total. (R) Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer Round 4 participants.
For Dr. Adrienne Weeks, the impact of this generosity is deeply felt in her work.
As a QEII clinician, Dr. Weeks works directly with neurosurgery patients, many of whom have been diagnosed with brain tumours. She also conducts essential brain cancer research, working to understand the disease and unlock potential new treatments. Her days vary between the operating room, clinic and research lab.
Funds raised by the Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer help fuel current, cutting-edge research in Nova Scotia, empowering researchers like Dr. Weeks to explore and advance brain cancer treatment.
Dr. Weeks shares that some current research projects include liquid biopsy to study blood samples and help uncover possible clues and markers for brain cancer, profiling the immune system to explore how it can be manipulated to allow for more effective brain cancer therapies, and developing better imaging tools alongside colleagues in oncology and radiology.
Some of the event funds are also used to propel and inspire students to pursue brain cancer research.
“When you fund these students and get them interested in brain cancer, they choose to research it in their future. And the more researchers we have, the more successful we will be in our research.”
Dr. Weeks is a big fan of Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer, calling it “a great event”. She’s attended for several years, speaking to the audience about local brain cancer research. She also feels deeply moved by the cause.
“I have a personal tie to this cancer – I had a family member die from brain cancer.”
As a clinician, she also has tough conversations with patients and their families who must navigate this devastating diagnosis.
“I’d like to beat this disease, so I don’t have to have these conversations any longer,” she says.
Dr. Weeks is quick to credit the many Nova Scotians that rally behind her work, through events like the Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer and in her professional research.
“I think the Nova Scotians are special. There’s something different about them” she says.
“My patients are willing to donate their blood and tumour samples to help further research. And the community will give money to help support this research. It’s fantastic and it’s heartwarming; I can’t talk enough about the community that raises these funds.”
Next year, Dr. Weeks is even hoping to put together her own team for Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer, raising funds and giving back even more to local brain cancer research efforts.
With such an incredible community fueling advances in local brain cancer research, both Jordan and Dr. Weeks are looking forward to continuing the Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer for many years to come.
“My biggest of all thanks go out to Rob, Robyn and Rick. My R Angels,” says Jordan.
“They’re my inspiration. They’re in my thoughts. And they’re my biggest motivators.”
Pictured: The 'R Angels’ are a Summer Bash Against Brain Cancer team created by Jordan Forbes in memory of Rob, Robyn and Rick, whom all passed from brain cancer in a one-year period. Photo credit: DB Studio HFX.
