A single moment, shared between two sisters during cancer treatment, became the catalyst for a gift that will help children across southern Saskatchewan.

Last fall, Lorraine Gosselin made a $500,000 donation to support the new $2.8 million pharmacy clean room for our Children’s Cancer Clinic at the Regina General Hospital. The gift was made through the newly established K & L Gosselin Foundation and honours the wishes of Lorraine’s sister, Karen, who passed away from cancer on April 17, 2024.

“I remember sitting with my sister while she received her treatment when she said, ‘It’s one thing for me to go through this, but what about the little kids?’ That statement struck me at my very core and ultimately prompted the decision to donate to the pharmacy clean room,” says Lorraine. “I knew in my heart that this was the right choice to honour my sister.”

In her final days, Karen received care in the Pasqua Hospital Palliative Care Unit. Lorraine recalls the compassion shown by the nursing team she lovingly refers to as Karen’s nurse angels, as well as Dr. Carmen Johnson, medical director of palliative services. That experience reinforced her desire to give back to the health care teams that support patients and families during life’s most difficult moments.

Lorraine’s gift will have an even greater impact thanks to a community matching campaign by Hospitals of Regina Foundation. The donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, bringing the total contribution to $1 million in support of our Children’s Cancer Clinic.

The pharmacy clean room is a critical priority for pediatric cancer care in Regina. It will support the preparation of personalized chemotherapy treatments for children. Custom chemotherapy helps doctors deliver treatments based on the child’s bloodwork on the day of treatment, and the molecular profile of their specific cancer. Personalizing treatment in this way lessens harmful side effects and gives our kids the best chance at the best results possible.

Last year, 11 children from Regina and southern Saskatchewan were diagnosed with cancer, and 169 currently receive treatment, follow-up and monitoring in our clinic. As the only Children’s Cancer Clinic serving southern Saskatchewan, it plays a vital role for families who rely on receiving care close to home.

“The generosity behind this gift is incredibly meaningful," says Dino Sophocleous, president and CEO, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “Lorraine’s decision to honour her sister in this way reflects deep compassion and love. This support will help advance cancer care for children who need it most, today and into the future."

For Lorraine, the K & L Gosselin Foundation represents more than this donation. It is a way to carry forward a family legacy rooted in kindness, empathy and care for others. Through this gift, Karen’s memory will continue to touch lives, offering hope and comfort to children, and their families, facing cancer across our southern Saskatchewan community.