West Island Community Shares raises record-breaking $1.2M

It was a record-breaking year for West Island Community Shares.

The organization, which funds dozens of different service groups in Montreal's West Island, raised $1.2 million, some of whichwas fundraised during CBC Montreal's annual Sing-In charity drive.

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"It was a huge success," Leanne Bayer, executive director ofWestIslandCommunityShares, told CBC Montreal's Homerun.

The organization celebrated the milestone at its annual "Live Here, Give Here" event, hosted byCBC Montreal News hostDebra Arbec,at the CEGEP Grald-Godin in PierrefondsTuesday night.

It was acelebratory and emotional night as some of the 41 organizations which receive donations gave their testimonies.

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One of those groups, Venturing Out Beyond Our Cancer (VOBOC), supports adolescents and young adults with cancer.

"I can't imagine how I would have survived had they not thrown me that precious life line," said Donna Coleman, who lost her daughter and grandchild to cancer.

$60K for flood relief

The organization's fundraising efforts were especially crucial this year, as the West Island endured some of the worst damage due to floods across the province.

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In the last few weeks, West Island Community Shares put together the "Neighbours in Need" fund to cater to local groupsinvolved in flood relief.

"Within two weeks, we managed to fundraise$60,000," Bayersaid.

At Tuesday night's event, the Royal Bank of Canada announced it would add another $10,000 to that fund.

"It's extraordinary, but the West Island is an extraordinarycommunity," Bayersaid.

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Next year's campaign is already underway with a new ambitious goal $1.3 million.