Following the death of their friend from cervical cancer in 2020, nine women created the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative to help improve women’s health care in Nova Scotia. Now the initiative has raised more than $4.5 million over four years. Their latest fundraiser was the 2026 Orchid Gala on Saturday night where they raised $1,261,196 and counting in support of the QEII Foundation and advancements in personalized cancer care for women receiving treatment at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. “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.” According to a news release from the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative, proceeds from the gala will help bring comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing to the QEII. These advancements would give cancer care teams critical information about the genetic makeup of a patient’s tumour, helping to guide more personalized treatment decisions for those facing gynecologic cancers, including ovarian and endometrial cancers. “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.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
