Take Action / Chain of Life Challenge

Take on the Chain of Life Challenge at Butte du vent!

Support Mikaëlla Poirier, our flag bearer and dedicated Chain of Life teacher, representing the very first link in the chain of life: education. Make a donation to your region, form a team, or join your flag bearer’s team. You can also register as an individual. Through this act of solidarity, you are making a tangible contribution to advancing education on organ and tissue donation in our schools.

It's a date on Friday, October 17, 2025

Flag-bearer

Mikaëlla Poirier

Hi,
My name is Mikaëlla Poirier, and I have been teaching English as a Second Language at the senior secondary level at the Polyvalente des Îles-de-la-Madeleine since September 2018. I am proud to represent our small Madelinot territory for Chain of Life, because I believe it is essential to have family discussions about organ and tissue donation—especially in remote regions, where decisions must be made extremely quickly in order to allow the deceased to be transported to a major hospital.

I chose to teach Chain of Life following the inspiring visit of Lucie Dumont and Doris Rainha, who came to our school to offer training. I had already heard about the program, but I had never dared to start it. Since then, I have been teaching this learning unit to my students for several years, and I have only one desire: to keep doing so for many years to come.

Having personally received a corneal transplant at only a few months old, following a diagnosis of congenital cataracts that caused me to lose vision in my left eye, I know just how profoundly organ and tissue donation can transform a life. It is an invaluable gift that improves health, restores hope, and, very often, saves lives.

Through Chain of Life, young people also become aware of the value of a healthy body and of the responsibility to take care of it. By discussing organ donation in the classroom and at home, they develop critical thinking, make informed choices, and become true agents of change in building a more informed, altruistic, and healthier society.

As part of my role as flag-bearer, I invite you to walk with me on Friday, October 17, 2025. Right after classes, at 2:45 p.m., we will leave the school for a hike to the Butte du vent. Together, we will cover approximately 5 km round trip, including the climb to the top. Although I am currently on maternity leave and will not be returning to teaching until January, I still wish to share my love of the outdoors and highlight the importance of the Chain of Life Challenge.

I warmly invite you to join us on October 17 to plant the Chain of Life flag at the top of the Butte du vent, or to support my team with a donation.

Together, let’s climb to celebrate life and support the educational mission of Chain of Life!

Mikaëlla Poirier
Proud Chain of Life teacher
Flag-bearer – Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region

The Key Links in the Chain of Life

The key links in the chain of life are doctors, nurses, transplant recipients, donor families, teachers, students, distinguished climbers, public figures and many others... who join forces to create a movement uniting all those touched directly or indirectly by organ and tissue donation.

The day of the event

For the Challenge, you will need warm clothing,, a snack and water.
In case of bad weather, please consult the Facebook event of the Gaspésie region for details.

Get directions from Google Maps

2:45 p.m.

Welcome of participants at Polyvalente des Îles and opening remarks

3:00 p.m.

Start of the walk

3:30 p.m.

Photo at the summit

4:00 p.m.

End of the walk

Élizabeth d'Amboise

1 week ago

made a donation of $50 to the region

Distinguished Climber

À venir

Mountain Climbing and Waiting for a Transplant: What a Parallel!

Participants in the Chain of Life Challenge carry the flag to the top of a mountain in their region.

Waiting for a transplant is a bit like climbing a mountain. Both require preparation, fortitude, determination, perseverance and, most of all, support — the climber needs strong climbing partners and the person waiting for an organ needs a reliable support network. Both are real challenges. This is why the mountain has become one of the symbols associated with Chain of Life.

By planting the Chain of Life flag at the top of a mountain, we are not only showing our solidarity for organ and tissue donation, but we are also helping send a message of hope to all those waiting for a transplant in Quebec and elsewhere.