January 22, 2026
Paying It Forward With Precision
When faced with troubling news about a loved one’s health, families often rally together for support. And when that loved one bounces back after receiving exceptional (and sometimes lifesaving) care, here at St. Joe’s Foundation, we see those very same families finding unique ways to express their gratitude.
After 62-year-old Jim Jarrell, CEO & President of the Guelph-based Linamar Corporation, had prostate cancer surgery at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, his son and son-in-law, Ryan Jarrell and Zack Fray, were so moved by Jim’s journey and the care he received that they organized a fundraising raffle in support of robotic surgery at St. Joe’s. The Play for Precision Raffle was held last fall and raised an impressive total of nearly $120,000 for St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. At $100 per ticket, players were given the chance to win incredible prizes like a Florida golf getaway, TaylorMade club fitting and gear, Leafs gold tickets, Blue Jays tickets, and a $500 cash prize.
“We were blown away by everyone’s support and generosity,” said Zack. “It’s incredible to have everyone willing to help us support more patient access to cutting-edge technology in robotic surgery at St. Joe’s.”
Ryan adds: “We now have a strong personal connection to the Hospital because of my dad. His care team showed a level of compassion and expertise that meant so much to us. We knew we had to do our part to give back for the excellent care that he received.”
Jim, a long-time resident of Guelph, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2023 after his prostate specific antigen (PSA) score continued to rise beyond the normal range. His doctors recommended robotic surgery, which brought him to Hamilton and to St. Joe’s. As the regional lead for urologic care and prostate cancer surgery, St. Joe’s performs over 800 urological procedures each year – 350 of which are robotic-assisted prostatectomies. The more precise and less invasive method of robotic surgery has been helping patients to heal faster and get home quicker with fewer post-operative complications, too.
Since his surgery more than a year ago, Jim’s returned to his normal life — working full-time, spending time with family and friends, and playing his beloved game of hockey. But he’ll never forget the better quality of life and additional time given back to him from St. Joe’s surgeon Dr. Edward Matsumoto and the Urology care team at St. Joe’s.
“This was the hardest chapter of my life, but I’m very thankful that they found a solution that met my needs and gave me and my family the best possible outcome,” said Jim. “Now, with the help of my family, we’re building something stronger for the next man who may need a robotic surgery lifeline.”
In addition to the nearly $120,000 raised from the Play for Precision Raffle, Jim and his wife Sandra have also made a generous personal gift to the robotic surgery program at St. Joe’s.
To learn more about robotic surgery and how you can help us fund the future of care, visit Surgical Robotics | St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.