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Bayshore Foundation Supports Cystic Fibrosis Canada

July 3, 2024
A group of people enjoying their food

Since the Bayshore Foundation for Empowered Living was created in 2017, Bayshore HealthCare staff across Canada have raised funds for dozens of charities, including health organizations, hospices, counselling centres, youth programs and more.

Every fundraising campaign is meaningful and rewarding for those involved – especially when there’s a personal connection to the cause. That’s true for the team at Bayshore Therapy & Rehab in Windsor, Ontario. Each year, they raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada in support of one of their colleagues, Chris Beausoleil, Lead Client Service Coordinator.

Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis  (CF) at age 5, Chris has never let his illness control his life. He has played numerous sports,  has coached youth soccer and hockey and is a very active volunteer in this community. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Windsor with an honours bachelor degree in human kinetics.

CF affects the lungs and digestive system, as well as many other organ systems. Additional complications include malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, cystic fibrosis–related diabetes and sinus infections. Currently, there is no cure, but according to CF Canada, the story is changing – “In the 1960s, most children with CF weren’t expected to live long enough to graduate high school. Today, more adults live with this disease than children.

“For the first time in our history, we can report that the estimated median age of survival for a Canadian with cystic fibrosis is 60 years of age – this means that half of the children born with CF today would be expected to live to be older than 60! Twenty years ago, that number was less than 37 years of age. This steady growth in the median age of survival is an indicator of the quality of CF care, research and treatments in Canada as well as the efforts that patients put into maintaining their health.“

Fifteen years ago, Chris and his family created a team – named Mission: Possible – to participate in the annual Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History. Friends and relatives take part in the event each year. After Chris became a Bayshore employee, his co-workers – fellow coordinators, managers and field therapists – also joined the mission. The walk in May 2024 marked BTR’s eleventh year of participation, and its sixth with the added support of the Bayshore Foundation.

Funds raised and donated by Mission: Possible and the Bayshore Foundation (More than $130,000 since 2019) help support a number of programs at Cystic Fibrosis Canada including:

The Bayshore Foundation is proud to continue to support the CF community in Canada.

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The Bayshore Foundation for Empowered Living, the charitable arm of Bayshore HealthCare, funds charitable organizations that support individuals who are facing the challenges of illness, injury or aging. Please visit our website bayshorefoundation.ca to make a positive difference where you live by donating to one of our current campaigns. And, thanks to a gift from Bayshore HealthCare, the Foundation is able to match your donation at 50% – for every dollar you give, your chosen charity receives $1.50.

How to get involved

Connect with your local Bayshore office or clinic, and help them support charities in your community. Thank you for your generosity!

Learn more

Ways to take action

  • Participate
  • Donate
  • Volunteer

Our charity partners

Proud Supporter of Alzheimer Society
Canadian Red Cross Logo
Variety - The Children’s Charity of BC
Proud Supporter of Alzheimer Society
Caregivers Alberta
Youth Haven
Wesley
We Are Young
Victoria Hospice
OpenLab
The Phoenix Centre for Children & Families
The Mark Preece Family House
Surrey Hospice Society
St. Joseph's Hospice Sarnia-Lambton
St. John Ambulance
Silver Harbour Centre
River Valley Cancer Support Group
Operation Friendship Seniors Society
MS Society of Canada
Make Children Better Now
Lisaard and Innisfree Hospices
Legion National Foundation
Lanark County Interval House and Community Support
Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation
Jack.org
Hospice Wellington
Hospice Prince Edward
Hospice Greater Saint John
Hospice Southeast New Brunswick
Hospice Fredericton
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre
The Food Bank of York Region
Distress Centre
Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Connected in Motion
Community Home Support Lanark County
Hospice Cornwall
Candlelighters Simcoe
Canadian Cancer Society Logo
Brockville and District Hospital Foundation
Brain Injury Association of Windsor & Essex County
Beth Donovan Hospice