n the summer of 2021, life for Léandre’s family came to a sudden halt.
In Rouyn-Noranda, Valérie and her partner are worried. Their youngest son, Léandre, age 5, is constantly tired. He complains of pain in his hips and legs—unusual, persistent pain, hard to explain in a child so young. Medical appointments multiply, with no clear answers. And as the days go by, Léandre’s condition continues to worsen.
One night, Valérie hits the road with her son, heading to Montreal. She doesn’t know it yet, but this journey will mark the beginning of a long storm.
The diagnosis comes as a shock: Léandre has high-risk neuroblastoma, a cancer found only in children. The pain he has been feeling is actually caused by metastases in his bones.
When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you’re completely numb. Fear is everywhere. You don’t know what to think anymore, or how to feel,
Valérie
Léandre’s mother
A Glimmer of Hope Through Clinical Research
Very quickly, the medical team put an intensive treatment protocol in place: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, a transplant of his own bone marrow, and immunotherapy. A heavy, demanding combination—but one filled with hope.
What Léandre’s family did not know at the time was that these innovative treatments and access to clinical trials are made possible in large part thanks to donations to Leucan.
Once the treatments were completed, calm did not fully return. For Léandre’s family, the sun remained clouded by constant worry: neuroblastoma is a cancer with a high risk of recurrence. The fear of seeing the disease return was overwhelming.
It is precisely at this moment that clinical research becomes essential.
It is precisely at this moment that clinical research becomes essential.
After finishing his treatments, Léandre took part in a major clinical trial. For two years, he received a medication aimed at reducing the risk of relapse. “Without Leucan’s investments in clinical research, our son would never have had access to this treatment. Research funding saves lives—Léandre is living proof of that,” his mother shares.
For families like Léandre’s, research is not an abstract promise—it is a concrete chance to protect their child’s future.
Never Weather the Storm Alone
Beyond research, Leucan was a true human lifeline for the family. Between constant travel, nights at the hospital, ongoing worry, and being far from home, the support they received made all the difference.
Leucan doesn’t take away the fear, but it restores confidence. We’re never left to fend for ourselves. There’s always someone to listen, to support us, to remind us that we’re not alone. It makes a huge difference in our daily lives,
Valérie
Léandre’s mother
The activities offered by Leucan, meetings with other families, volunteers who take the time to know Léandre by name, moments of respite where a child can simply be a child—all of this helps bring light back where illness has cast everything into shadow.
As the year comes to a close, your donation can change everything
By giving to Leucan, you’re not only funding treatments. You’re helping children like Léandre access the best possible care. You’re supporting families moving forward through uncertainty who, thanks to your generosity, are never alone.
And right now, your generosity has an even greater impact.
Thanks to an exceptional commitment from the Cole Foundation, all donations made to Leucan are tripled, up to a total of $50,000.
Every dollar given becomes three times more powerful in supporting clinical research, guidance, and essential services for families.
I promise you that your donations matter. My family is very concrete proof of that,
Valérie
Léandre’s mother
As this year comes to an end, take action that transforms lives.
Give other children the chance to grow, to smile, and to live healthy lives.
