TORONTO -- A Canadian philanthropist has donated $1 million to boost COVID-19 research in Montreal.
Sophie Desmarais, daughter of Canadian financier Paul Desmarais, last week gave $500,000 to Montreal鈥檚 Jewish General Hospital to help coronavirus research projects there.
On Thursday, Desmarais announced a donation of $500,000 for the Montreal Heart Institute, which is launching a clinical study to determine whether short-term treatment would reduce the risk of complications and related deaths in people suffering severe symptoms from COVID-19.
The study needs volunteers with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and those interested in taking part are encouraged to speak to their health care professional or call 1-877-536-6837.
鈥淚鈥檓 really reaching out to help raise money for the research. I don鈥檛 feel empowered by staying home and being confined all this time and seeing people die and seeing that we鈥檙e not coming to some sort of solution and it鈥檚 frightening,鈥 Desmarais told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning, suggesting that she鈥檚 also prepared to give more.
鈥淚f somebody would donate $500,000 I would match that donation again for the Montreal Heart Institute,鈥 she said.
Demarais also has a charity, the Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais Foundation, which aims to fight bullying, violence and discrimination among school children.
"Ms Desmarais' commitment toward funding our researchers will change the course of this worldwide pandemic," said Bram Freedman, President and CEO of the JGH Foundation.
