walkwithrenee

Renée Claudette (June 7, 1972 - August 28, 2004) grew up with her younger brother Matthew and her mother and father, Coral Ann and Charles Gallant in Bedford, NS before going off to Ottawa where she graduated from Carleton University, in 1994, with Honors in Public Administration. She returned to Halifax to obtain her Information Technology Certification from ITI in 1996.

Renée demonstrated a passion for helping others especially children. Besides always being there for younger brother, cousins and friends she volunteered with numerous youth focused organizations such as Bedford Parks and Recreation as youth leader and lifeguard; Girl guides as group leader; youth representative to Bedford Days Organizing Committee; high school and university student council representative and mentor to a Saint John, N.B. Junior Achiever. She also coached Bedford summer swim teams and in 2005 Swim N.S. established an annual Assistant Coach award in her memory.

Renée met her future husband, John George Justin MacIntyre of Cole Harbor, N.S. when she returned to Halifax to pursue a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Renée and John married on August 7, 2004.

They were tragically killed on August 28, 2004, four days after returning from their honeymoon by a driver under the influence of alcohol who was convicted of reckless driving causing death.

Walk with Renée

In August 2004, because of Renée and John's love for children, Renée’s family asked that donations be sent to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada in her memory; sufficient funds were donated to send a young Acadian girl, with her grandparents and two siblings, from Nova Scotia's French shore to Disneyland in November 2004.

In 2005 Shannex Health Care N.S produced a cookbook with half of the profits going to the Children’s Wish Foundation. This and other donations submitted, in Renee's memory, went a long way to fill another child's wish in 2005 and 2006.

In 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and again in 2011 Renee's family is inviting you to _Walk with Renée_ in the Children's Wish Foundation annual 'Wish maker Parade'. Approximately $80, 000 have been raised in Renée’s memory. At approximately $10, 000 per wish, this has allowed the Children’s Wish Foundation to grant eight (8) wishes.

You can participate in the Walk with Renée campaign by obtaining a 'Wishmaker Parade pledge sheet from the foundation's national office at

1 800 - 267- WISH,or www.childrenswish.ca

Be sure to designate your pledge sheet to the _Walk with Renée_ team.

The parade takes place on October 15th and 16th, 2011 in over one hundred Canadian communities.

Check www.childrenwish.ca for locations in your community.

If there isn’t any parade in your community, you are encouraged to walk with a friend or a family member and send a donation to the Children’s Wish Foundation in Renée’s Memory.

The funds raised through this year's _Walk with Renée_ campaign will go towards making a child’s dream come true.

Please refer to _Walk with Renée_Team when submitting pledge sheet or donation.