The questions asked most frequently.
Frequently asked questions
Charles Bruneau was a young boy whose journey transformed paediatric oncology in Quebec. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 4, he experienced periods of remission and recurrence that marked his childhood. Alongside his father, Pierre Bruneau, Charles helped raise awareness among Quebecers about the reality of childhood cancer.
Shortly before he passed at age 12, Charles expressed the wish that the mission he and his father had started together would continue. His dream—”When I grow up, I will be cured”—became the founding inspiration for the Fondation Charles Bruneau.
The Fondation brings Charles Bruneau’s dream to life by funding research and supporting the development of projects that transform the daily lives of children with cancer. Specifically, it supports Quebec’s four major university hospital centres so that every young patient, regardless of their region, has access to the best care and an optimal quality of life during their care trajectory.
Since 1990, the Fondation has proudly invested more than $100 million to help advance research and care in Quebec. Driven by its commitment to accelerating cures for children with cancer, it recently pledged an additional $50 million by 2030, bringing its total historical support to more than $150 million. This major investment ensures the sustainability of medical innovation across its four partner hospitals.
Financing from the Fondation accelerates the pace of scientific discoveries while directly improving the lives of children with cancer. This results in more accurate diagnoses and innovative, less invasive treatments.
More specifically, the sums announced aim to cure as many children as possible, including the 20% whose cancers are resistant to existing treatments, and to ensure that these cures come without after-effects or complications.
Each year, more than 300 children are diagnosed with cancer in Quebec, which represents about one family per day. Currently, more than 2,000 young patients are being followed in paediatric oncology across the province. Although these numbers are significant, advances in research now make it possible to offer prospects of recovery to a large majority of them.
Although paediatric cancer includes a wide variety of diagnoses, three types of cancers are most commonly diagnosed in Quebec:
- Leukemias: They represent about one third of diagnoses and affect cells of the bone marrow and blood.
- Tumours of the central nervous system: This group includes different forms of brain tumors.
- Lymphomas: These cancers develop in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.
Other rarer forms, such as neuroblastomas or kidney and bone tumours, round out the picture in paediatric oncology. Research funded by the Fondation Charles-Bruneau helps deepen knowledge in connection with each of these types of diagnoses so that increasingly personalized treatment protocols can be offered.
Advances in research have radically transformed health outcomes. Today, the overall recovery rate ranges between 80% and 85%, compared to only 30% three decades ago.
This major progress attests to the effectiveness of treatment protocols developed in our four partner hospitals. That said, this figure varies depending on the type of diagnosis: While exceptional success rates are now associated with some cancers, other more complex forms still require sustained investment so that we may one day offer a cure to every child.
A child hero is a young ambassador who, through their authenticity and presence, becomes the face and heart of our flagship events. Accompanied by their family, they agree to share their journey in an effort to inspire participants, donors and partners. Their participation reminds everyone of the deep meaning of our commitment to offer all Quebec children with cancer the best possible health outcomes and an optimal quality of life.
You can donate to the Fondation Charles-Bruneau online, by postal mail, or via PayPal. For more on the different methods of giving: fondation@charlesbruneau.qc.ca or call at 514 256-0404 or at 1 877 256-0404. To donate online now.
Every donation is a direct investment in the future of children with cancer in Quebec. In practical terms, your contribution helps to:
- Advance research: Finance innovative paediatric hematology-oncology projects aimed at discovering more precise and personalized treatments.
- Improve quality of life: Support initiatives aimed at reducing long-term after-effects and offering a gentler care trajectory for children with cancer and their families.
- Support our four partner centres: Ensure that Quebec university hospitals specializing in paediatric oncology have the necessary resources to provide leading-edge care.
Thanks to your generosity, research has given rise to exceptional advances in recent years, turning hope into concrete realities for thousands of children with cancer and their families.
When you join our monthly giving program, you can choose the 1st or the 15th of the month as your withdrawal date. Your donation will then be automatically withdrawn on the chosen date, every month.
You can cancel or change your monthly donation at any time. Each month, a confirmation email is sent to you; simply reply to let us know what changes you would like, and we will make the adjustment.
Donations of $20 or more with no benefits received in return are eligible for a tax receipt for income tax purposes. For example, tickets purchased in our raffles are not eligible for a tax receipt, since they give holders a chance to win a prize and are therefore not considered a donation under tax legislation.
The Fondation Charles-Bruneau is committed to protecting your personal information by applying strict security measures to safeguard its confidentiality and integrity. For details, please consult our Privacy Policy.
Your banking and credit card information is protected and is not shared with third parties. The Fondation Charles-Bruneau does not store any credit card data, which is why your information must be submitted again for each transaction.
Your personal information is treated with the utmost discretion and is not sold, rented or exchanged with third parties for commercial or solicitation purposes.
The Fondation Charles-Bruneau uses your information solely in the context of its activities, including for purposes of processing your donations, issuing tax receipts, informing you about the impact of your generosity, and conducting internal marketing analysis. Access to this data is strictly limited to authorized staff members in the performance of their duties, ensuring the protection of your privacy.
In certain specific contexts, such as event registration, some information may be shared with essential suppliers such as first-aid services and security or other partners involved in organizing the event, only when required for the proper conduct of activities and with your consent.
You may withdraw or change your consent to the use of your personal information at any time by contacting us at: fondation@charlesbruneau.qc.ca.
You can get involved in several ways: By making a donation, participating in our events, organizing fundraising activities or campaigns, or offering your time as a volunteer. To find out more about the different ways to get involved with the Fondation Charles-Bruneau, please visit the “Get Involved” section.
Of course! If you would like to organize a fundraising activity or campaign in support of the Fondation Charles-Bruneau, our team will be happy to help you make it a success. Please contact Amélie Lepage, Events Coordinator, at alepage@charlesbruneau.qc.ca.
Yes, you can participate in our events at any time. To learn more about our upcoming events, consult our “Discover our events” page.
Yes, getting involved as a partner or sponsor is easy! The Fondation Charles-Bruneau is always happy to welcome new partners and sponsors for its events. Please contact the Manager, Philanthropic Development, Valérie Vigneault at vvigneault@charlesbruneau.qc.ca or 514 256-0404 ext. 224, for further information.