The story behind the pledge

In 2022, Talbot Stevens was diagnosed with cancer.

He was 53. He had a wife, two kids, a business, and a big idea about helping average Canadians keep more of their money. He also had cancer.

During treatment, he thought a lot about what matters. Not in a vague, inspirational sense — in a very specific sense. If he survived, what would he do differently? What would make the work mean more?

The answer came clearly: give half of it away. From day one. Publicly.

Not after reaching some milestone. Not "when we're profitable enough." From the very first dollar MyBetterRates earns, 50% goes to cancer research. That's the Cancer50Pledge.

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Why 50%?

Because it's hard enough to be uncomfortable. A 5% pledge is easy to forget. A 10% pledge gets rationalized away in a bad quarter. 50% is a constraint that forces the business to be good, not just profitable.

Talbot was inspired by Giving What We Can — a global community of people who pledge 10%+ of their income to effective charities. The Cancer50Pledge applies the same principle to a business, not a salary.

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Why cancer research?

For obvious reasons. And for one specific one: the survival math is stark. Advances in early detection and treatment have dramatically shifted outcomes for many cancers. Research funding is a direct multiplier on survival rates.

Talbot survived. Not everyone does. The pledge is his way of paying it forward — with the resources that his survival made possible.

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How MyBetterRates connects to the pledge

MyBetterRates is a Canadian rate intelligence platform. It finds better savings, GIC, and debt rates for Canadians and helps them move to those rates with minimal friction.

When a Canadian switches from a 0.01% savings account to a 3.65% GIC through MBR, that switch earns MBR a small referral fee. That fee is the revenue. Half of it — forever — goes to cancer research.

Better rates for Canadians. Better outcomes for cancer research. That's the loop.

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