Quebec City nuns raise $135K for health-care workers through daily strolls

Every day, the nuns at the Augustinian monastery in Old Quebechead to their garden to walk for an hour and show their support for health-care workers.

The nuns, whoseaverage age is80, have been raising money through online donations to support frontline health workers. The money will be used to welcome health-care workers to themonastery's personalized "wellness program."

"We really want to serve people and continue to help them in any way we can," said Sister Lise Tanguay, who has lived at the monastery since 1965, when it was still cloistered.

The sisters start their walk every morning at the foot of the cross, and say a prayer for the sick and for frontline workers.

They are at a greater risk of developing complications from COVID-19 because of their age, and some of the nuns need walkers or canes, butall the sisters continue towalk every day, said Tanguay.

The sisters have to brave the heat, butit's a way to recognize the tireless efforts of health-care workers, she said, notingthat walking in the heat wearing a habit is nothing compared to workers in full PPE.

"We wanted to manifest our sympathy and our solidarity with them," she said.

Mayor joins for last walk

Quebec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume joined the sisters for their final stroll on July 4, when they announced that they had raised $135,000 for frontline workers.

"This is more than we could have hoped for, and we're very happy," Tanguay said.

She said the sisters surpassed their original fundraising goal of $100,000 by day 11 of a planned 20.

Labeaume said the efforts of caretakers became especially clear to him theselast few months, while he helped care for his ill father.

He spoke about the emotional challenges of taking care of loved ones, and said his experience helped him realize the importance of the work.