Liz Rigney and Sheri Morgan have raised $3.1 million for women's health in their best friend's name

Hey Halifax!

One more story before the weekend. The Orchid Gala is Saturday, and while the gala itself is sold out, anyone can bid in its online auction until 11:45 p.m. Here's how Liz Rigney and Sheri Morgan rallied their friends to build one of Nova Scotia's biggest women's health fundraisers in just a few years.

Liz Rigney and Sheri Morgan have raised more than $3.1 million for women's health in their best friend's name

Liz Rigney and Sheri Morgan's best friend, Deanne Reeve, died in 2020 after a late diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Besides grieving her best friend, Sheri heard first-hand from her daughter, a urogynecologist (a specialist in women's pelvic health), how long women wait for care.

That vision became the Orchid Women's Health Initiative and its yearly fundraiser, the Orchid Gala. Since 2023, the gala has raised more than $3.1 million for women's health at Dartmouth General, the IWK and the QEII.

Their first project was the Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite at Dartmouth General Hospital. In its first year, it quadrupled the hospital's gynecologic services.

Last year's gala raised $1.9 million toward a da Vinci Xi surgical robot at the QEII.

This year, they're aiming to raise more than $900,000 to bring HRD testing to the QEII. The test helps doctors match women with ovarian and other gynecologic cancers to the treatments most likely to work for them. Organizers say it means "the right treatment, from the right expert, at the right time."

Liz says they want to keep going:

Liz and Sheri don't do it alone. The Orchid Gala committee also includes Jennifer Auld, Vicki Rafuse, Charlene Corkum, Alana Gammon, Allyson Watson, Lisa Gallivan and Julie Metlege.

Check out the story on Instagram for a video of Sheri speaking about how long women wait for care.

Anyone can bid in the Orchid Gala auction until Saturday night

This year's gala on Saturday, October 24, is sold out, but its online auction is open to everyone, whether you're going or not. Items include a week in the Bahamas, a stay-and-play package at Fox Harb'r, the golf resort in Wallace, and a jersey signed by Halifax's own Brad Marchand. Bidding closes at 11:45 p.m. Saturday.

Prefer to donate instead? You can give to the Orchid Gala directly through the QEII Foundation.

Photos: Kelly Clark Fotography (Liz and Sheri), courtesy of Liz Rigney (Deanne, Liz and Sheri), Mel Cherry Photography (2025 gala).

Thanks for reading,

Greg