$350,000 was raised for the En Cœur foundation, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The final amount was revealed late Saturday afternoon at the Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy at the conclusion of the 10th edition of the 6 H En Cœur.
The event, which took place from May 11 to 25, aimed to complete 6 hours of walking or running, alone, in a group or in relays, in order to raise money to help children with congenital heart disease and their family by offering them various services through the foundation.
The pediatric cardiologist at the Quebec University Hospital, Mother-Child Center, Christine Houde was delighted to see that around 400 people gathered for the conclusion of the event which also took place in Montreal on May 11 last.
The one who has been involved with the foundation since its beginnings believes that it is necessary more than ever to raise funds to help families.
“With the cost of living, there are several families who cannot make it, so when you have a child in intensive care for two months for example and your partner has to return to Rimouski to take care of the other two children and work , it’s certainly not easy,” she explains.
Pay it forward
For many young adults, involvement with the foundation is above all a way of giving back.
This is the case of Samuel Beaudoin who has been involved for 6 years now. Operated after only 5 days of life due to a heart defect, he is now preparing to run a half marathon. He also considers himself lucky to be able to live normally and in such good health at 34 years old.
Samuel Beaudoin has been involved in the foundation for 6 years now | Credit: Nicolas St-Pierre
“It was my parents who benefited from the help of the foundation, both in terms of listening and for my journey and especially in terms of how to live with a sick child. I’m grateful to have a healthy heart today and that’s why I want to give back,” he told the Journal.
The same goes for Julie Fallu, who came all the way from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. After three open heart operations due to a heart defect, she wanted to be there to support the foundation.
“The foundation is so important and I wanted to be there to support it. I am also here to give hope by showing that you can live very well with a heart defect when you have the necessary support,” explains the 37-year-old woman.
Even if the final amount has been announced, it is still possible to make a monetary donation to help the foundation in the pursuit of its mission by visiting this link.
