Couture Candy PTBO’s community fundraiser supporting Cancer Care is Sweet raised $16,700 for cancer care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced Thursday.
Inspired by her many customers who come into Couture Candy PTBO looking to send a treat to someone impacted by the disease, owner Lisa Couture wanted to do something to give back to the community.
In June of 2022, she launched the Supporting Cancer Care is Sweet campaign, with a goal of $10,000. When it quickly became clear they would surpass their goal, Couture raised it to $15,000.
She says she’s blown away by the community’s response.
“We hoped we would hit our goal but to get so far past it has been absolutely amazing,” said Couture. “I am so grateful to my amazing team, the businesses who supported and the Peterborough community for believing in us and supporting this amazing ‘give back’ campaign.”
From mid-June until Oct. 3, Couture Candy PTBO donated a portion of the proceeds from over 10 of their most popular products to the campaign.
In September, Couture took Rob Conley, Lansdowne Place’s specialty leasing manager, up on their offer to donate a free month to the cause, opening a second “pop-up” location that helped drive her success.
They also collected donations, displaying names and messages from donors throughout the store and held ice cream fundraisers throughout the summer with Central Smith Creamery.
The community quickly rallied behind the cause, with friend Justin Armitage holding a haircut challenge and raising $2,125 and Whelan’s Flooring’s donation of $1,000.
Lesley Heighway, foundation president and CEO of the PHRC Foundation says they’ll help save lives by supporting state-of-the-art cancer care equipment and technology for PRHC.
“The number of patients from Peterborough and the surrounding region who rely on PRHC for cancer treatment continues to climb every year,” said Heighway. “Your donations are helping our hospital serve more cancer patients, support earlier cancer diagnosis, and provide safer, more effective treatments.”