On Friday, September 18, the Yvon Michel Foundation gathered supporters at Le Mirage golf club for the 6th edition of its annual benefit dinner, under the signature theme Dare to Dream, bringing together Quebec sports personalities, entertainers and philanthropists in support of metastatic breast cancer research. The evening raised $261,254, a substantial contribution to a cause rooted in one family’s experience of loss.
Le Mirage is a private 36-hole golf and community facility located in Terrebonne, Québec, originally founded and long co-owned by singer Céline Dion. Surrounded by landscaped fairways and woodland, its clubhouse provided a picturesque setting for the September gathering.
Pink accents, associated with breast cancer awareness, featured prominently in the event’s promotional imagery.
The golf club’s elegant setting offered a fitting backdrop for a program combining cocktails, fine dining, fundraising and live entertainment for local and visiting socialites.
Guests were invited to begin at 5 p.m. with a reception and silent auction before gathering for a four-course dinner with host Benoît Gagnon. The evening’s live auction, led by sports broadcaster Michel Beaudry, added another opportunity to support the foundation’s mission.
A Personal Commitment
Founded by Stéphanie Drolet in memory of her mother, who died from metastatic breast cancer, the Yvon Michel Foundation has become a significant supporter of research at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Alongside Yvon Michel, president of boxing promotion company I-BOX and the foundation’s vice-president, Drolet has mobilized Quebec’s sporting and philanthropic communities to contribute more than $1.13 million toward breast cancer research and related causes, helping scientists pursue better treatments and longer lives for patients.
Familiar Faces, Shared Cause
The foundation’s guest lineup brought together prominent figures from Quebec’s sporting, entertainment and business communities. Among the athletes were boxing champions Kim Clavel, Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal, fellow boxer Alexis Barrière, football stars Étienne Boulay and Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Olympic champions Sylvie Fréchette and Charles Hamelin, speed skater William Dandjinou and former NHL player Steve Bégin. Also on the announced VIP guest list were television personalities Geneviève Tardif and Benoît Gagnon, alongside entrepreneurs Nicolas Duvernois and Karine Joncas.
Among the invited guests were also Maïka Desnoyers, Derek Pomerleau, Michel Bergeron and Manon LeBlanc, highlighting the foundation’s network. Rock singer Éric Lapointe was billed as the evening’s headline performer, bringing a concert element to a gathering where entertainment and generosity shared the spotlight.
Where Donations Go
According to its 2026 impact report, the MUHC Foundation’s support has helped researchers better understand how cancer spreads to the liver, explore promising treatments involving a cholesterol-lowering drug and advance liquid biopsy technology to improve cancer detection and personalize care. While these developments still require clinical evaluation, the research has already helped secure more than $3 million in additional funding, illustrating the tangible impact of sustained philanthropy.
A Meaningful Result
As the evening’s fundraising total reached $261,254, the significance extended beyond the dinner tables and auction bids. Each contribution supported a research effort built on persistence, collaboration and the hope of giving families facing metastatic cancer more time together. At Le Mirage, the Yvon Michel Foundation once again connected Quebec’s social and sporting circles with the scientists working to make it possible for everyone to dare to dream of a world without breast cancer.
Yves Michel Foundation
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This post was revised by AI