OVER $134K RAISED IN SUPPORT OF THE QEII FOUNDATION’S QEII PATIENT ESSENTIALS FUND
The Halifax Thunderbirds' historic 2025-2026 season gave Nova Scotians plenty to celebrate and its impact continues to be felt well beyond the lacrosse floor.
From record-breaking performances and sold-out crowds to a memorable run to the franchise's first-ever National Lacrosse League Finals, the Halifax Thunderbirds captured the energy, pride and passion of an entire city.
But while the team was making history on the floor, they were also making a meaningful difference off it by raising funds in support of patients and families receiving care through the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
Throughout the 2025-2026 season, the Halifax Thunderbirds partnered with the QEII Foundation to raise awareness of the financial pressures many patients face during illness, injury and healthcare crises, while raising more than $134,102 for QEII Foundation's QEII Patient Essentials Fund.
The Halifax Thunderbirds' generosity came to life in powerful ways throughout the season, including:
- 50/50 draws at every Halifax Thunderbirds home game benefitted the QEII Patient Essentials Fund
- The Halifax Thunderbirds donated $5 from every ticket purchased by QEII Foundation supporters directly to the Fund
- With every home-game goal scored, proud Halifax Thunderbirds partner, belairdirect, donated $250 with additional contributions from local corporate partners who joined belairdirect and the Halifax Thunderbirds in supporting this initiative.
At every home game, the Halifax Thunderbirds also used their platform to shine a spotlight on the realities and financial hardships many QEII patients and families face — helping connect fans to the impact community generosity can make during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Through the QEII Patient Essentials Fund, the Halifax Thunderbirds will fund more than 2,680 patient gift cards for those undergoing treatment at Atlantic Canada’s largest and most specialized hospital — helping cover urgent everyday costs like gas, medications, nutritional supplements, groceries and personal care items. For many patients and their families, these gift cards can mean the difference between making it to an appointment, putting food on the table or having the essentials needed to continue their recovery at home.
For patients facing serious illness or injury, these seemingly simple supports can make an extraordinary impact.
“Our mental health teams regularly engage with patients and families during times of stress, transition or crisis — these gift cards are a way for us to extend care beyond the bedside and support the whole person and their family,” says Angie MacNeil, health services manager of inpatient medicine at the QEII’s Abbie J. Lane Building. “This small gesture can help ease stress, show compassion and promote dignity, especially for families who are navigating a loved one’s hospitalization or complex care needs.”
For patients receiving cancer treatment, the challenges can look different but be equally overwhelming. Many are living on fixed or reduced incomes while also managing frequent appointments, special diets and the physical toll of treatment.
“Gift cards can be incredibly helpful to cancer patients because they directly ease the financial burdens that come with treatment,” says Angela Crook, a radiation oncology nurse at the QEII Cancer Centre.
“Many patients are on special diets or can't cook easily during treatment, so grocery gift cards let them, or their families, buy fresh food, ready-made meals or supplements. Driving to frequent appointments — like chemotherapy, radiation or scans — can cost a lot, especially for those living in rural areas. Gas cards help patients get to care or help their family or friends who are driving them.”
It's these everyday moments of care that the Halifax Thunderbirds are helping make possible through their generous support of the QEII Patient Essentials Fund.
“On behalf of the QEII Foundation, our QEII healthcare teams and the thousands of patients who will ultimately benefit from these funds raised, I want to thank and congratulate the Halifax Thunderbirds organization, players, coaches and staff on an extraordinary and historic season,” says Dianna MacDonald, director of events & partnerships at the QEII Foundation.
“This team gave Halifax so much to celebrate throughout the 2025–2026 season. Their success on the floor was incredible to watch, but what made this partnership especially meaningful was the way they consistently showed up for our community. We are incredibly grateful for their leadership and heart,” says Dianna.
The Halifax Thunderbirds' remarkable 2025–2026 season builds on a growing legacy of giving back through the QEII Foundation.
During the 2024-2025 season, the Halifax Thunderbirds helped the QEII Foundation complete funding for the transformation of the gymnasium within the QEII's Abbie J. Lane Building, which will create an improved therapeutic and recreational space for patients receiving mental health and addictions care.
Together, these initiatives reflect a partnership rooted in compassion and a shared commitment to improving the lives of QEII patients and families.
While the Halifax Thunderbirds' historic 2025-2026 season is now part of the record books, its impact for QEII patients and families will continue long after the final buzzer.
As Halifax eagerly looks ahead to the Thunderbirds' next season, the QEII Foundation is proud to celebrate an organization that continues to inspire our community — not only through elite lacrosse, but through its generosity and unwavering support for local health care.
