The Fondation santé de l'Archipel announced a record $54,000 was raised during its annual fundraiser held Nov. 15-22. The organization made the announcement Nov. 23.

The amounts collected during the Équipée Santé are used to improve health care on the Islands and are distributed according to priorities established by the CISSS of the Islands.

Nearly $35,000 was raised in the community. The Islands' council of doctors, dentists and pharmacists (Conseil des médecins, dentistes et pharmaciens des Iles) added a donation of $20,000 after pledging to double the amount raised (up to that amount).

At her first Équipée Santé event, Foundation Director Stéphanie Larocque said she was touched by the outpouring of solidarity shown by the community during the pandemic.

In accordance with public health recommendations, the traditional door-to-door campaign has given way to an online donation campaign and a collection day at specific service points.

According to Larocque, this represented a certain organizational challenge, as they had to revise in a few weeks a formula well known to the residents of the archipelago.

She is delighted with the response of the Magdalen Islanders, who have adopted this new way of doing things, and says she has had positive feedback on the campaign.

You can still give by visiting the Fondations website here: https://www.fondationsantearchipel.com/donner

Listen here to the full interview with Stéphanie Larocque: