Show up
for the people
who need us most.
We're a small team from Newfoundland doing work that usually takes a staff of fifty. Our volunteers are how we do it. If you believe in what we're building — there's a place for you here.
See open rolesHCF was founded in memory of Heather Cutler, a nurse who made sure no one faced illness alone. That's the foundation she left behind — and the one we're building.
We show up.
In person. Together.
Pride in the Park was the foundation's first community event.
It won't be the last — and the team in these photos is the reason why.
Why this matters
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Pancreatic cancer doesn't wait
Most patients are diagnosed late, when time is the scarcest thing they have. HCF volunteers help us respond faster, reach further, and serve people who can't wait for bureaucracy to catch up.
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We're a small team doing big work
We don't have a large staff. What we have is a focused group of people who care deeply and use every tool available. Our volunteers aren't support staff — they're central to what HCF is.
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This work started at home — in Atlantic Canada
HCF was founded in Newfoundland, in memory of a nurse and mother. We know what it means to live in a region where access to care has never been guaranteed. Volunteering here is a commitment to your own community.
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Volunteering should give back
We believe volunteering should benefit the volunteer as much as the foundation. Tell us what you'd like to get out of it — experience for a career you're building, a skill you want to learn, a cause you want to stand behind — and we'll work to place you where those goals meet work that matters. If a placement isn't giving you anything back, we want to know, and we'll find a better fit together.
Open volunteer roles
We recruit for specific roles rather than general volunteering — so your time goes somewhere it actually makes a difference. Don't see a fit? Tell us anyway.
| Role | Commitment | What you'll do | Skills helpful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support Line Volunteer | 4–6 hrs / month | Take calls and messages from patients and caregivers navigating a new diagnosis, connecting them with resources and emotional support. | Active listening, comfort with difficult conversations; bilingual an asset |
| Research & Policy Analyst | Project-based | Monitor clinical trials, drug access decisions (Canada's Drug Agency), and policy developments relevant to pancreatic cancer in Canada. | Health policy, oncology background, research writing |
| Communications & Social Media | 3–5 hrs / month | Draft posts, respond to community questions, and help share patient stories and advocacy updates across HCF's channels. | Writing, social media, Canva, community management |
| Events & Outreach | Event-based | Staff community events, distribute materials, speak with the public, and represent HCF across Atlantic Canada. | Public speaking, outgoing, local community knowledge |
| Translation (French / other) | As needed | Translate patient-facing resources, website content, and advocacy materials into French or other languages. | Bilingual French–English; medical terminology helpful |
Ready to
join us?
Fill in the form and we'll follow up within a few days. We're a small team — you'll hear from a real person, not an autoresponder.
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Send the interest form. A few short questions about you, what you're interested in, and what you'd like to get out of volunteering. It takes a couple of minutes.
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We reply and talk. We read every form ourselves and reply by email, so we can talk about what you're looking for.
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We find a fit together. Your placement is shaped around your interests and your goals — and it can change as they do.
Students and career-changers welcome. Several of our volunteers joined to build experience toward a goal — a program application, a new field, a first portfolio piece. Tell us the goal in the form, and we'll try to shape the work so it counts toward it.
From Newfoundland, with love.