In March of this year Medisys will start celebrating its 25th year. We have experienced so much change from our early days in 1987 with only one office in Montreal and a handful of employees, to growing into a national healthcare organization with offices in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver and a dedicated team of over 500 healthcare professionals and staff.

In 1987, we were ecstatic to evaluate 5 executives a week. In 2012 we are equally ecstatic and proud to provide preventative healthcare services to over 18,000 people. Your trust in us is something we cherish and will always remain of paramount importance.

In 1987, much of our prevention was targeted on cardiovascular issues. Cancer was somewhere in the background. But in 2012, with all of the changes in medical knowledge, cancer has become front and centre in everyone's minds. Perhaps it is because we are all 25 years older, perhaps it is the environmental factors; but no matter, clearly we are dealing with a terrible problem.

The one thing that I do know that has changed over the past quarter of a century is our ability to diagnose faster and better and to treat more effectively. We are making huge inroads into prevention and survival.

This, however, comes with a price - that of the need for ever more medical research so that the speed of finding cures will be turbocharged.

As you know, since many of you have sponsored me over the past 3 years, I undertook to get off my butt and train and ride and raise lots of money. This year, I have undertaken the challenge not only riding again but being the co-chair of the entire event.

For the past 3 years I have been the no. 3 fundraiser across Canada and the no. 1 fundraiser in Quebecbecause of your fantastic generosity.

This year we will have 25 Medisys riders; this year we plan on raising the bar and celebrating our 25th anniversary with great success.

So please help; come and ride with us. It will be good for your heart, your mind and your well being.

But if you cannot do that, please support Medisys and myself in making sure that we do not have to wait another 25 years to conquer cancer!

With best wishes for a healthy 25 years.

Sheldon Elman, MD