The Espace Les Amis de Jean-François: 23 Years of Generosity Toward the HMR’s Little Patients
30 January 2018
Joy, gratitude, pride… The January 25th special recognition event was a whirlwind of emotions as families, friends and HMR representatives gathered to honour the boundless commitment of Camille Thibodeau and Pierre Dubois, the parents of little Jean-François, who was taken by leukemia 24 years ago when he was just six years old.
From that moment on, they made a commitment to support the HMR by helping sick children and improving their quality of life. Thus, with the help of their family and friends, Les Amis de Jean-François was born as a celebration of life and a way to pay it forward.
Since 1995, Les Amis de Jean-François have raised $900,000 for the HMR Foundation. Their generous contribution was used namely to completely refurbish five rooms in the “Aile des grands” and the Pediatric medical day unit, as well as for the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment that continues to save lives, year after year.
In recognition of their determination to enhance pediatric care at the HMR, the “Aile des grands” has been named the Espace Les Amis de Jean-François (The Friends of Jean-François Space). During the special recognition event, Camille and Pierre were very moved to witness the impact of their commitment and to see the memory of their little boy crystallized at the HMR.
“We never imagined that we would come this far. We are very proud of having kept it up year after year and to still be here 23 years later. This designation represents a pinnacle for us! It reminds us of why we came here and encourages us to persevere. From the bottom of our hearts, we wish to thank all of those who have supported us through the years,” said the couple during a very moving testimonial.
