New to Ontario:

LIVERight Little Heroes Program

Join the LIVERight Little Heroes program and become champion of liver health. Little Heroes raise funds through their birthday parties and other events to support liver research projects around the country and education programs in the community. Little Heroes not only raise money but also awareness about liver disease and the importance of organ donation with the support of the Canadian Liver Foundation.

If you would like more information on this program or would like to nominate a LIVERight Little Hero in Ontario, please contact Lucy You (interim contact) by email.

Meet Molly.

Molly Levesque of Richmond village, with the support of her mother Heather Levesque and aunt, Laura Smith, started an online fundraiser selling tie dyed pillowcases and face masks to raise money for the Canadian Liver Foundation. She named her fundraiser Made by Molly and her family helped create a Facebook page to support her efforts.

Molly became aware of the importance and need to raise funds for liver research when her aunt Laura had a liver transplant this past September (09/27/2020). Laura, a resident of South Kanata, shared her story, “I was diagnosed with end stage liver disease at the age of 31. Prior to August 21st, 2020, I had no idea I was sick – it was all so sudden. Shortly after, I was transferred to the ICU at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, and just a few weeks later, I was in a shuttle on my way to the Toronto General to await an unexpected liver transplant. I was very sick, and I only had a few months left to live… I challenged this disease every day, and did my best to stay positive, and strong. For what felt like forever, but just a few weeks later a miracle delivered. I had my successful full liver transplant on September 27th, 2020, at the age of 32!”

Since she began, Molly has raised $3225 to support the Canadian Liver Foundation! Funds raised will support liver research and local community support programs, including the Eastern Ontario “Living with Liver Disease” program, a free, monthly forum for people living with liver disease and their families to connect with each other in person, to learn about their disease and how to cope.

Heather, Molly’s mother and Laura’s sister, shared “This past Fall, Molly’s Auntie Lolo fell ill and was blessed with a liver transplant. Due to her recovery, and amidst a global pandemic we were searching for ways to have socially distant visits with her. Tie-dye was Molly’s new favourite activity, so we jumped in with driveway visits with auntie and she let her creative ideas take over! With an abundance of projects under way we brainstormed on what to do with them all and alas “Made by Molly” was created. While teaching Molly the importance of “giving back” and supporting a local fundraiser, Molly chose to support The Canadian Liver foundation as it is so near and dear to our family. We have received an outpour of love and support for her hard work. Molly took this very seriously, from having a hand in every pillow case design, to each and every handwritten tag, to packaging up and delivering the packages to our supporters. She is thrilled to see the outcome of her hard work and so proud to be recognized as a “Little Hero” with the Canadian Liver Foundation.”

Molly’s story and fundraising efforts were recognized by Mayor Jim Watson along with may local politicians and her story was featured in the Ottawa Citizen!  You can read the article here.

Thank you Molly, Heather and Laura for supporting our cause and raising money to help others living with liver disease in Canada! Laura has also recently joined the Canadian Liver Foundation, Eastern Ontario, as a peer volunteer.