Guy A Lepage, touched by love

The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation unveils its new ambassador and launches its Love is contagious campaign

MONTREAL, Oct. 15, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - It is with enormous pride and excitement that the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation announces its partnership with Guy A Lepage, who has accepted to be the organization's ambassador. The announcement coincides with the launch of its Love is contagious campaign, which will be driven by a stirring, emotion-filled video. A series of impactful photos highlighting what goes on every day in the hospital centre are set to the song La Maladie d'amour by Michel Sardou, sung by Ariane Moffatt, Martha Wainwright and the young voices of Clémentine, Thierry and Ariane, three of Sainte-Justine's children.

December 2016. Sainte-Justine became a part of the life of Guy A. Lepage and his family for the first time when their 2-year-old son Thomas was admitted to the emergency room in a serious state. The diagnosis was severe cellulitis of the toe. Six months later, he was hospitalized a second time with Kawasaki disease. Both times, thanks to Sainte-Justine, Thomas made a full recovery.

Recognition and respect for life
Today, Guy A Lepage wants to give back to the institution that changed his family's life. "Our son is alive and well thanks to the medical staff at CHU Sainte-Justine. It was therefore only natural that I immediately accepted to become an ambassador for the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. This is my way of giving back to this institution that has done so much for our family. I know love is contagious. I feel it when I see my children, when my heart is heavy because they are sick, but I also feel it all around Sainte-Justine. I've caught the love bug, and now it's my turn to help it spread to as many people as possible."

Both mothers and sensitive to the cause, Ariane Moffatt and Martha Wainwright joined forces with Clémentine, Thierry and Ariane, three of Sainte-Justine's children, to produce a unique cover version of Michel Sardou's song La Maladie d'amour. "I consider myself so privileged to have three healthy children, and not a day goes by that I don't repeat it to myself," said Ariane Moffatt. "It's an honour to share my voice and my heart for the children and families who are dealing with illness." Martha Wainwright enthusiastically agreed to join this unifying project. "In society there is nothing more important than the well-being and health of our children." she said.

This contagious love for children is what drives us to give our best in order to offer the very best care for children. It takes hold of our heart and makes it grow bigger. It transforms us and does so much good, for both ourselves as well as those around us. It has become essential and of vital importance for all of Quebec's children. The video launched on social media today portrays this contagious love in images and offers us a glimpse into life at the hospital centre. Featuring real patients and caregivers from the institution, it opens the doors to Sainte-Justine to help people understand the broader story that takes place within its walls. It reaches out to the hearts of people everywhere in Quebec, and even beyond.

For the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation, this campaign is an opportunity to reiterate its support and determination to do more for the CHU Sainte-Justine. "Sainte-Justine has always been guided by the love of the children. It underpins everything they do. The excellence, care and passion of the health care teams are rooted in the love they have for the families of Sainte-Justine. Our donors give their support for the same reason. Love. Many of us have caught the love bug, but we are hoping even more people come on board, so that Sainte-Justine can continue to pursue its mission of being an exceptional hospital centre that provides care on a human scale," said Maud Cohen, President and CEO of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation.

A hub for pediatric and maternal-fetal care and a true haven for thousands of Quebec families, the CHU Sainte-Justine has a mission that transcends its boundaries. Its care, education and research mandates have established this hospital as a flagship institution for the province, whose impact on the global health of mothers and children is indispensable. "We give, we heal, we seek, we love, we change the world. Whether one is a caregiver, employee, donor or partner, it's through collaboration and the pooling of strengths of the various stakeholders that we can maximize the reach and impact of each dollar invested. Together, we have the power to transform care," added Jacynthe Côté, the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.

La Maladie d'amour des enfants: share it and take pride in having caught the love bug!
Follow the campaign on Facebook.

About the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation's mission is to engage the community and support the CHU Sainte-Justine in its pursuit of excellence and its commitment to providing children and mothers with one of the highest levels of health care in the world. fondationstejustine.org

About the CHU Sainte-Justine
The Sainte-Justine university hospital centre (CHU Sainte-Justine) is the largest mother-child centre in Canada and the second largest pediatric hospital in North America. A member of the Université de Montréal's extended network of excellence in health (RUIS), Sainte-Justine has 5,457 employees, including 1,532 nurses and nursing assistants; 1,000 other healthcare professionals; 520 physicians, dentists and pharmacists; 822 residents and over 204 researchers; 411 volunteers; and 4,416 interns and students in a wide range of disciplines. Sainte-Justine has 484 beds, including 67 at the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant (CRME), the only centre in Quebec that is exclusively dedicated to pediatric rehabilitation. The World Health Organization has recognized the CHU Sainte-Justine as a "health promoting hospital." chusj.org

SOURCE CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation