Marie-Ève Janvier is taking part in the Grand Sapin de Sainte-Justine campaign again this year. She knows the children’s hospital well and accompanied her brother Louis-Philippe, who was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his neck at the age of 9, for barely months.
Louis-Philippe underwent numerous treatments at Sainte-Justine over the years, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and spent long periods in hospital there.
“The first five years of our lives, my brother and I, were really our everyday lives. He sometimes left the hospital during the holidays. In my childhood it wasn’t dramatic. When I come back to Sainte-Justine, I feel safe and cared for,” said Marie-Ève in an interview with QMI Agency.
Ten years after her brother’s death, the presenter and singer still visits the CHU Sainte-Justine because her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Laurence is being treated there for a health problem. Luckily the child is fine and the situation is under control. “She is being followed very well. My daughter was hospitalized here this time last year. She is full of life, she leads a normal life, but she can find herself in different situations that can be dramatic.
The “Masked Singers” team was represented on Monday at the CHU Sainte-Justine. The doll, Anouk Meunier, the astronaut (with Damien Robitaille in it), Stéphane Rousseau, Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge and the chameleon. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, Anouk Meunier and Stéphane Rousseau from the show Chanteurs maskés were present at the lighting of the Great Fir on Monday. From the third season onwards, Anouk visited the oncology ward, particularly with the doll. She said she wanted to share the energy with the little ones and their loved ones. Even Damien Robitaille wore his guinea pig costume in the astronaut suit and was very hot.
Anouk Meunier, who has already volunteered at CHU Sainte-Justine by painting in the emergency room, was back at the children’s hospital on Monday to light the Grand Fir. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
“It was very touching, the children had sparkles in their eyes, even though some had been there for a long time and some experienced it again and again.” I love people, I enjoy getting to know them and making them happy. I was with the doll and I can tell you that I came second!” said Anouk, laughing.
550,000 lights
The mother of three children, who, among other things, hosts the program “Rythme au travail” on Rythme FM and will star in the musical “Waitress” next summer, therefore firmly believes in the cause of Sainte-Justine, whose Great Fir is on Monday The goal was to raise $2.75 million. This requires selling more than 550,000 lights at a price of $5 each.
As of Monday evening, with ten days left in the campaign, more than 50% of the target had already been reached, while more than 278,000 lights had been lit by Quebecers. The more lights people buy, the brighter the tree becomes to fund pediatric care and research.
Guy A. Lepage remains the ambassador of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation, whose youngest son Thomas was saved twice at the last minute by teams from the Montreal facility, which, as we remember, receives young patients from all over Quebec.
“I know the doctors and nurses and am grateful to them. They treat young people from all over Quebec, but we were lucky enough to be in Montreal when Thomas was sick. And if we had waited, he would have died,” RBO’s ex recalled.
The ambassador of the Sainte-Justine Foundation, Guy A. Lepage, was also at the CHU Sainte-Justine to light the large Christmas tree. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
In addition to the presenters of Tout le monde entalk and Marie-Ève Janvier, speakers for the Grand Fir campaign are Fred Pellerin and his daughter Marie-Fée, who were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma on December 24, 2019. Treated in Sainte-Justine, the 18-year-old young woman, who has been in remission for almost four years, is doing well.
To donate, go online: https://grandsapin.fondationstejustine.org/