Longtime Standardbred breeder and owner Joe Carr of London, Ont. may not be one of harness racing's household names, but his live-saving generosity has certainly cemented him there in other circles.

On Thursday, Carr announced a $700,000 donation to London Health Sciences Foundation in support of research and education initiatives at London Health Sciences Centre’s London Regional Cancer Program.

This latest gift raises Carr’s total donations supporting local cancer research to more than $1 million.

Horses bred and raised by Carr typically sport the Azucar prefix, with racehorses such as $100,000 earner Azucar Amelia having recent success on the B tracks.

Carr has contributed to LHSF for more than a decade, including his first major gift of $300,000 in 2011 to support clinical trials and research at London Regional Cancer Program. The roots of Carr’s generosity go back to his mother, Mildred, who was honoured with the naming of a conference room in her name.

“When my father died, she raised seven kids on her own,” says Carr. “She didn’t have much in the way of funds and dealt with hardly any income.”

Carr always felt grateful for his mother’s dedication to her children. As one of the eldest, he took on the responsibility of helping her with the family farm near Appin, Ontario – a farm where he would eventually breed horses.

“My late father was into harness racing and I used to follow him to the races,” Carr says. “I got a passion for it as well – and it blossomed from there.”

From his passion for horse breeding, training and racing came financial success. That success, together with good financial planning, led Carr to a point where he felt that it was time to start giving back.

A teacher by profession, Carr understands the power of health care research and made the decision to support translational (bench-to-bedside) research at LRCP. His latest contribution will help several initiatives, including the novel cancer imaging research of radiation oncologist David Palma, MD, PhD and imaging scientist Aaron Ward, PhD.

“I was particularly impressed with their work,” he says. “What they’re doing is going to have a big impact.”

“Donors like Joe Carr are key partners in enhancing and advancing health care in our city, our region, as well as provincially, nationally and globally,” says LHSF President John MacFarlane, as the research facility aims for to raise $200 million in its current fund raising campaign.

“Donations provide funds for the purchase of equipment and technologies that enable innovative patient care,” says LHSC President and CEO Murray Glendining. “Donations also support research and advanced education initiatives - ensuring we can continue to provide extraordinary patient care into the future.”

(with files from the LHSF)