From loss to lasting impact: More than $4.5M raised by the Orchid Women's Health Initiative to change women's health care in Nova Scotia

HALIFAX, NS, Oct. 25, 2026 /CNW/ -- What began as a tribute to a beloved friend has grown into a multimillion-dollar movement transforming women's health care in Nova Scotia.

The sold-out 2026 Orchid Gala, presented by TD, has raised $1,261,196 net and counting in support of the QEII Foundation and advancements in personalized cancer care for women receiving treatment at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

More than 400 guests gathered at Steele Wheels Motor Museum on Saturday, October 24, to celebrate the extraordinary impact of the Orchid Women's Health Initiative (OWHI) -- a powerhouse group of women whose commitment to improving women's health has now generated more than $4.5 million net over four years for healthcare advancements across Nova Scotia.

This year's fundraising success was fueled in part by an extraordinary commitment from Lisa Murphy and Geno Sajko, who pledged to match donations, raffle purchases and auction purchases up to $250,000 -- inspiring even greater generosity from the Orchid Gala community.

For the second consecutive year, proceeds from the Orchid Gala will support the QEII Foundation, this time helping bring comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing to the QEII. These leading-edge precision oncology advancements will give cancer care teams critical information about the genetic makeup of a patient's tumour, helping guide more personalized treatment decisions for those facing gynecologic cancers, including ovarian and endometrial cancers.

The 2026 Orchid Gala builds on an extraordinary year of impact. In 2025, Orchid Gala supporters raised a record-breaking $1.9 million net to help fund the QEII's newest and most advanced surgical robot, the da Vinci Xi. Now in use at the QEII, this groundbreaking technology is expanding access to minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgery for women facing gynecologic cancers, helping eligible patients experience less pain, fewer complications and faster recoveries.

Behind these transformative investments is a deeply personal mission. Following the passing of their dear friend Deanne Reeve in 2020 after a late diagnosis of cervical cancer, nine remarkable women -- Jennifer Auld, Charlene Corkum, Lisa Gallivan, Alana Gammon, Julie Metlege, Sheri Morgan, Vicki Rafuse, Liz Rigney and Allyson Watson -- rallied together to honour her memory and help improve health care for other women. United by friendship, grief and a shared determination to make a difference, they created the Orchid Women's Health Initiative, turning personal loss into a powerful movement and a lasting legacy that continues to grow.

Today, that legacy is helping address some of the most pressing priorities in women's health care, from improving access to specialized procedures and reducing wait times to advancing more personalized cancer treatment. Through investments in leading-edge technology and new models of care, the Orchid Women's Health Initiative is working alongside hospital foundations, healthcare leaders, government, donors and more to help bring meaningful improvements to patients across Nova Scotia.

The QEII Foundation is honoured to stand alongside these extraordinary women -- visionary leaders who are challenging the status quo and championing a future where women have faster access to the care they need, more personalized treatment options and a better healthcare experience.

QUOTES

"When we lost Deanne, we knew we wanted to do something meaningful to honour her and help other women and families facing the unimaginable," says Liz Rigney, member of the Orchid Women's Health Initiative. "What started with a group of friends determined to make a difference has grown beyond anything we could have imagined. To see this community raise more than $4.5 million for women's health care is incredibly emotional. Deanne is at the heart of everything we do, and knowing her legacy is helping change lives is something we're immensely proud of. We're especially grateful to Lisa Murphy and Geno Sajko for their extraordinary matching commitment this year, and to everyone who continues to rally behind our mission."

"We're not willing to accept the status quo when it comes to women's health care," says Sheri Morgan, member of the Orchid Women's Health Initiative. "Women deserve timely access to exceptional care, and we're determined to be part of the solution. That means challenging wait times, championing leading-edge technologies and working alongside healthcare leaders to find new and better ways to deliver care. We know meaningful change doesn't happen overnight, but we're committed to pushing boundaries and helping make women's health a priority."

"For women facing gynecologic cancers, having access to the most advanced technology and treatment options can make an enormous difference," says Dr. Stephanie Scott, Division Head of Gynecologic Oncology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. "We're already seeing the impact of last year's Orchid Gala through the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, and this year's investment in comprehensive genomic profiling and HRD testing represents another exciting advancement. Having more detailed information about a patient's cancer will help us better understand which treatments may be most effective for them. These are meaningful improvements in the care we can provide, and we're so grateful to the Orchid Women's Health Initiative and everyone who continues to support our patients."

"The Orchid Women's Health Initiative is a powerful example of what community philanthropy can make possible for health care in Nova Scotia," says Susan Mullin, president and CEO of the QEII Foundation. "In just four years, these remarkable women have mobilized an entire community around a shared vision for better women's health care. Last year, their generosity helped bring advanced surgical robotics to the QEII. Today, they're helping us take another significant step forward in personalized cancer care for those facing gynecologic cancers. We're incredibly grateful for this partnership and the extraordinary generosity behind it. Their impact will be felt by patients and families for years to come."

QUICK FACTS

• Four years of extraordinary impact: Since 2023, the Orchid Women's Health Initiative has raised more than $4.5 million net for women's health care in Nova Scotia through its signature Orchid Gala and community fundraising efforts.
• A movement inspired by Deanne Reeve: Founded by Sheri Morgan and Liz Rigney in memory of their dear friend, the Orchid Women's Health Initiative is driven by nine passionate women: Jennifer Auld, Charlene Corkum, Lisa Gallivan, Alana Gammon, Julie Metlege, Sheri Morgan, Vicki Rafuse, Liz Rigney and Allyson Watson.
• Transforming women's cancer care at the QEII: In 2025, Orchid Gala supporters raised a record-breaking $1.9 million net in support of the QEII's da Vinci Xi surgical robot, helping expand access to minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgery for women facing gynecologic cancers. The Orchid Women's Health Initiative has also supported a new, state-of-the-art CO2 laser for the QEII, helping advance precision in minimally invasive procedures, including specialized gynecological and head and neck cancer surgeries.
• Advancing precision oncology: Proceeds from the 2026 Orchid Gala will support CGP and HRD testing at the QEII, helping cancer care teams better understand the genetic characteristics of certain gynecologic cancers and identify more personalized treatment options.
• A legacy across Nova Scotia: Through previous partnerships with the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation (2023) and IWK Foundation (2024), the Orchid Women's Health Initiative has helped bring leading-edge advancements in women's health care to life. This includes the Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite at Dartmouth General Hospital -- the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada -- which is transforming capacity for gynecologic procedures, helping reduce wait times and improve access to specialized care. At the IWK, their generosity has also funded advanced equipment and technology to enhance gynecological care for women across the province.
• Impact beyond hospital walls: Through the Deanne Reeve Silver Lining initiative, a portion of Orchid Gala proceeds also supports community organizations making a meaningful difference in the lives of women across Nova Scotia. 

SOURCE QEII Foundation

For media inquiries, please contact: Liz Rigney, Orchid Women's Health Initiative, [email protected]; Nicole Topple, QEII Foundation, [email protected]