On Saturday November 16, Patrick Bousez, Prefect of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC and Mayor of Rivière-Beaudette, said goodbye to his salt-and-pepper hair for a good cause. He took part in the Défi Tête rasée ou pas (Shaved Head or Not Challenge) to benefit the Organisme Voué aux Personnes Atteintes de Cancer (OVPAC). Earlier this fall, Néomédia conducted an interview with the big-hearted politician.

The event, which took place at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Golf Club, marked the organization's 40th anniversary. On hand were Miguel Lemieux, Mayor of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Prefect of the Beauharnois-Salaberry RCM, Julie Lemieux, Mayor of Très-Saint-Rédempteur, Joanne Brunet, General Manager of DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and Sébastien Legros, General Manager of the CDC Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille was also present, as was her colleague and Beauharnois MP Claude Reid. In fact, the four first responders lent a hand during the Challenge, helping to shave Mr. Bousez's hair.

The evening also saw the unveiling of the $46,000 raised by teams participating in the Défi Tête rasée ou pas. The owner of Kia Régate Valleyfield, Steve Charland, took the floor and decided to increase the prize pool by $4,000 to $50,000.

“ I'm delighted to have raised the highest amount of all the teams registered for the Challenge. Thank you to my many donors for supporting this cause and this organization, which is still very much under-recognized. There are no small donations when it comes to supporting a cause. OVPAC deserves greater recognition for its essential mission. Everyone knows people with cancer. Whether it's a father, a father, a brother, a sister or a friend. But not everyone with cancer has someone around them to support them through their illness. That's where OVPAC comes into its own ,” he says the day after the Shaved Head or Not Challenge.

Privileged in his daily life, Mr. Bousez feels it's important to give back and get involved in his community.

A first participation in the Défi Tête rasée ou pas

It was during the organization's golf tournament held earlier this summer that the challenge was officially launched by real estate broker Jacques Laplante. “Of course, I accepted the challenge, but I decided to do it a little the other way around. Normally, a participant has to raise $1,000 or more before the big day to avoid having his or her head shaved. I've decided that I'll gladly shave my head if I raise $2,500. It sounds like I'm on the right track for success (laughs),” he says over the phone.

Thanks to the generosity of some fifty donors, he ended the challenge with $3,360 in his personal kitty, a sum donated to the organization, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This year's Shaved Head Challenge was held under the honorary presidency of Steve Charland, owner of the car dealership on Monseigneur-Langlois Boulevard in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

An organization worth discovering

Why did Mr. Bousez agree to take part in the Défi Tête rasée ou pas? “ We all know someone we know who is currently battling cancer, or who has battled or beaten the disease. It's important to support organizations like OVPAC that make a difference in the lives of patients. This organization provides transportation for people with serious illnesses to a regional or Montreal hospital, but it does so much more than that. It's a great cause and I'm happy and proud to be associated with it."

Each year, OVPAC offers its services to a clientele made up of 45% Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents. The funds raised by Mr. Bousez during this challenge will enable OVPAC to acquire an additional vehicle to transport users requiring health care in the region or outside Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

“ We are evaluating the possibility of acquiring a hybrid vehicle to add to our fleet of 4 cars. Our medical transport service is not financially supported by the government. We receive no financial assistance to offer this service to our users. So we have to organize several fund-raising campaigns each year to finance it and offer the service at an affordable price," says OVPAC General Manager Guylaine Joannette.

On a day-to-day basis, OVPAC can count on a team of four full-time employees and six volunteer drivers. The team provides medical transport for users suffering from various cancers or serious illnesses to a hospital in the region or elsewhere. The territory served includes the MRCs of Roussillon, Haut-Saint-Laurent, Beauharnois-Salaberry and Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

“ We give drivers a perdiem to cover the cost of their meals or other expenses incurred during transport.Sometimes the days are long and can stretch.Once we're at the hospital, we know what time we'll arrive, but the departure time can vary.We can accompany people to medical appointments, but also drive them home if they need surgery. They can be accompanied in the car.Sometimes it's a nice alternative to spend quality time with a loved one, without having to worry about traffic, weather or parking issues,” she continues.

Interestingly, OVPAC accepts patients of all ages. To benefit from the organization's medical transportation and other services, you must become a member at a cost of $20 per year.

People interested in supporting the organization, and thus Patrick Bousez, can make a donation to his challenge via the Go Fund Me platform. “ There's no such thing as a small donation. Every donation counts. The needs are great, especially as OVPAC serves a very large territory,” he concludes. Even if the Shaved Head or Not Challenge is over, you can still make a donation on Mr. Bousez's Go Fund Me page.