For our first project, the CHANCE committee chose to bring help to the Oscar Jandl hospital in San Cristobal, Ecuador. During the research phase of this project, we were shocked to find out that the San Cristobal community has a ratio of one doctor for every 820 inhabitants. CHANCE also learned that 50 per cent of the people in this community fall below the poverty line and that infant mortality statistics are roughly five times higher than in Canada. The Oscar Jandl hospital, which serves 90 per cent of the community in San Cristobal, was in desperate need of medical equipment and supplies and CHANCE wanted to help.

It took CHANCE only one year to raise enough money to ship $250,000 worth of medical equipment and supplies to the Oscar Jand hospital in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. This equipment had been generously donated to CHANCE by Mr. Dave Smith, an Ottawa philanthropist who collects medical equipment and supplies from Ottawa hospitals.

Fundraising Events

To raise funds for this project, CHANCE hosted a charity garage sale as well as a gala. Our first event was the CHANCE Garage Sale, held in September 2007. With the help of family, friends and CHANCE supporters who donated the items we sold, CHANCE raised a total of $800.

In October of that same year, we hosted our first CHANCE Gala where guests enjoyed a fun filled evening including dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions. Thanks to our generous guests, CHANCE raised over $12,000 that evening.

Finally, in March 2008, CHANCE’s President, ShannonTessier and CEO, Lorna Tessier, had the honour of delivering the supplies to Ecuador. This incredible experience allowed them to witness firsthand the difference CHANCE is making.

Take a photographic journey through CHANCE’s Ecuador Project by following the links below:

• CHANCE Gala
• Trailor Loading
• Equipment Arrival