To date, the 4th Vague d’espoir ("Wave of Hope") winter swim fundraiser has raised more than 12,000 that will be donated to the Francine Daigle Fund of the Fondation Santé de l'archipel ("Archipelago Health Foundation").

While contributions are accepted until mid-January, the amount raised in 2021 already surpasses the cumulative sum of the three fundraisers in years past.

The Richard family, for whom the New Year's Day winter swim is a tradition they observe in memory of the late Jean Richard, says the event has never been more popular, despite the pandemic's restrictions.

From left to right: Christine, Dolores Cyr, Geneviève and Jean-Simon Richard. The New Year's Day swim has been a family tradition for many years. Photo: CFIM.

This year, Jean Richard's widow, Dolores Cyr, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cyr said the news brought a new zeal for the event for her and her children Christine, Geneviève and Jean-Simon.

Despite a cancer diagnosis, Cyr, wouldn't have missed the traditional swim for anything in the world.

Stéphanie Laroque, the director of the Fondation Santé de l'Archipel, explains that, until recently, the Fonds Francine Daigle was mainly dedicated to the acquisition of equipment.

With its new hemato-oncology room, the CISSS des Îles is working with the Foundation on other projects that will be unveiled soon.

In 2018 and 2019, the funds raised went to the Cancer Research Society. Since 2020, the money has been donated to the Madelinot foundation.