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Meet Our Heroes

IWK Heroes

Meet some of our IWK heroes— courageous patients, exceptional caregivers and generous supporters— who know the value of the IWK to the Maritime community. They inspire us to ensure the IWK can continue providing the specialized care it's known for every day.

Use the filter below to view stories by hero type, location, or area of funding.
 

Find a Hero

Dude run banner

The Dude Run

The Dude Run is an annual motorcycle ride that began in 2013 in memory of Reggie (The Dude) Dempsey, an avid motorcycle rider who passed away that year. The ride raises funds to help support children in need, including Maritime children who rely on specialized care at the IWK. 

Henry Duff

Henry Duff

Henry Duff was 14 months old when he was airlifted from his local hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick, to the IWK in June 2022. He was fighting a trifecta of common viruses and was in respiratory failure.

Marissa Gootjes

Marissa Gootjes

Thanksgiving Day in 2017 began as an ordinary day for the Gootjes family of Quispamsis, New Brunswick. After a hockey practice and a family dinner, their oldest daughter, Marissa, went to a friend’s house to watch a movie.

Whitetail Fisheries

Whitetail Fisheries

When it comes to supporting the IWK, Whitetail Fisheries are lobsters! 

Maggie Archibald

Maggie Archibald

Ever since her first menstrual cycle at age 12, Maggie Archibald, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has struggled with debilitating pain.