Walking Angels — Domenic Dell’Elce

If Michelangelo were alive today, he’d have the perfect man for another breathtaking fresco, and he’d probably paint him with a halo and a pair of wings. His name is Domenic Dell’Elce, and besides being a successful businessperson and family man, he’s also a cancer survivor and fervent philanthropist.

After being diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 19, things didn’t look good. By the time doctors located the malignant material, it had spread to the lower lymph nodes in Dell’Elce’s back. He underwent surgery and a year of chemotherapy, interrupting his university studies and changing his life radically. Of course, you wouldn’t know that by talking to him.

Now, you’ll see a tall, smiling man who has endured an intense battle. And while he may have won the battle, he’s still fighting the war. Dell’Elce established the annual Michelangelo Gala in 2004, to combat testicular cancer and raise money for the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Genitourinary Clinic. The gala wasn’t named after the renowned artist for his masterpieces, but for his reputation as a discoverer. “It’s a celebration of discovery, because we can use the funds to help doctors and scientists discover new ways of helping people with cancer,” says Dell’Elce.

Since its inception, the gala has generated over $1.7 million. “I believe we can create miracles for others by fundraising,” Dell’Elce reveals, who raised almost $500,000 at this year’s event. His efforts haven’t been limited to the annual dinner. Dell’Elce recently acted as honorary chair for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation’s Ride to Conquer Cancer – a two-day bicycle trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls. And for the hospital’s yearly lottery, he provided a $3 million, custom home raffle prize, built by his family’s company, Fandor Homes Inc.

Today, Dell’Elce looks back with a profound sense of life’s hidden messages. He is now a husband to his supportive wife, Bernisa, proud father to their daughter, Sasha, 2, who he refers to a miracle. “The most important thing in the morning and when I get home, is thanking God for my family and another day,” he says wholeheartedly. For people battling cancer, another day is exactly what Dell’Elce is helping to give, making him an angel among men.

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