Couture Candy PTBO Raises $16,700 For PRHC Foundation Cancer Care

Couture Candy PTBO’s community fundraiser supporting Cancer Care is Sweet raised $16,700 for cancer care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced Thursday.

PRHC Foundation staff Meghan Moloney (left) and Valerie Gagnon (left-middle) accept a cheque for $16,700 from Couture Candy PTBO owner Lisa Couture (right-middle). The cheque represents the proceeds of Couture Candy PTBO’s “Supporting Cancer is Sweet” fundraiser in support of cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Photo courtesy of PRHC.

Inspired by her many customers who come into Couture Candy PTBO looking to send a treat to someone impacted by the disease, owner Lisa Couture wanted to do something to give back to the community.

In June of 2022, she launched the Supporting Cancer Care is Sweet campaign, with a goal of $10,000. When it quickly became clear they would surpass their goal, Couture raised it to $15,000.

She says she’s blown away by the community’s response.

“We hoped we would hit our goal but to get so far past it has been absolutely amazing,” said Couture. “I am so grateful to my amazing team, the businesses who supported and the Peterborough community for believing in us and supporting this amazing ‘give back’ campaign.”

From mid-June until Oct. 3, Couture Candy PTBO donated a portion of the proceeds from over 10 of their most popular products to the campaign.

In September, Couture took Rob Conley, Lansdowne Place’s specialty leasing manager, up on their offer to donate a free month to the cause, opening a second “pop-up” location that helped drive her success.

They also collected donations, displaying names and messages from donors throughout the store and held ice cream fundraisers throughout the summer with Central Smith Creamery.

The community quickly rallied behind the cause, with friend Justin Armitage holding a haircut challenge and raising $2,125 and Whelan’s Flooring’s donation of $1,000.

Lesley Heighway, foundation president and CEO of the PHRC Foundation says they’ll help save lives by supporting state-of-the-art cancer care equipment and technology for PRHC.

“The number of patients from Peterborough and the surrounding region who rely on PRHC for cancer treatment continues to climb every year,” said Heighway. “Your donations are helping our hospital serve more cancer patients, support earlier cancer diagnosis, and provide safer, more effective treatments.”

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Local Man Raises Over $2,100 With Haircut Towards Cancer Research

It may be the most rewarding haircut for Justin Armitage as he raised over $2,100 in support of Peterborough Regional Health Center Foundation for cancer care on Tuesday afternoon.

Armitage is a former coworker and a longtime friend of Couture Candy PTBO owner Lisa Couture. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money is going towards Couture Candy PTBO’s fundraiser campaign with a goal of $10,000 (which has already been reached).

Armitage raised money as a tribute to a friend he lost to cancer roughly a decade ago.

“It was a hard thing to deal with,” he said. “This is just a great way to make me keep his memory alive and makes me feel like I'm contributing to something.”

@ptbo_canada Justin Armitage raised over $2,100 to help @couturecandyptbo and their $10,000 fundraiser for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation for Cancer Care! #ptbo #ptbocanada #cancer #haircut #fundraiser #fundraise #hair #couture #candy #cancerresearch ♬ Whatta Man (feat. En Vogue) - Salt 'N' Pepa

Armitage began his haircut by getting his ponytail cut off in front of Couture Candy PTBO. The rest was completed at men’s clothing store, barber, bar and café Providence.

He reached out to friends, family and other potential donors roughly a week and a half prior to the haircut.

“I'm sure my family and friends are tired of hearing from me over the last few days so there were a lot of texts and phone calls,” laughed Armitage. “But a lot of it was social media and run through that with peers, friends and whoever wanted to contribute.”

He plans to donate the ponytail to Locks of Love to help children suffering from medical hair loss by making a hairpiece from it.

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Couture Candy PTBO Celebrates Grand Opening on Saturday

Couture Candy PTBO’s second location on Lansdowne Place hosted its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday.

Lisa Couture and Family cut ribbon in opening ceremony of their new location. Photo by Luke Best

The new storefront is located between Journeys and Claire’s at the bottom of the escalator. Couture Candy PTBO has been donated the space from the mall until Oct. 3 to aid in their ‘Cancer Care is Sweet’ fundraiser.

$1 from select products will go towards the Peterborough Regional Health Center Foundation for cancer care with a goal of $10,000.

Before the new location opened on saturday, they had already raised $8,500 according to Couture. Photo By Luke Best

“We're gonna crush it. I know we will,“ said owner Lisa Couture. “We actually have some fun challenges for the community to get more donations. There's a cool hair-cutting challenge that's will be coming up.”

Donations can also be made at both stores or online.

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Couture Candy PTBO Announces Grand Opening Date of Lansdowne Place Location

Couture Candy PTBO’s second location on Lansdowne Place is having its grand opening on Sept. 3 announced on social media on Monday.

Couture Candy PTBO owner Lisa Couture (pictured) has had one Tiktok video go viral with over 1.6 million views. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The second location was donated storefront space from Lansdowne Place offered to Lisa Couture, Couture Candy PTBO owner. The space was given to aid in her $10,000 fundraiser goal in support of Peterborough Regional Health Center Foundation for cancer care.

Couture says her business has had non-stop action in preparation for the Lansdowne storefront.

"We have to double our ordering,” she explained. “Our vendors are fantastic, most of them know what's happening so they're super-supportive and it's all hands on deck making sure that the time we're at the mall for the fundraiser is a huge success."

All select products sold at the store see $1 of each product towards the foundations. Several charity candy bags feature freeze-dried brand candy and assorted mixes.

During the store’s first six weeks of its 15-week campaign, $5,000 was raised with some assistance from local businesses. Reclaimed Garden Co. donated $255 while Jolly Painters within 10 minutes of the fundraiser update donated funds to make it exactly $5,000.

Donations can also be made at the store or online.

The Lansdowne location will have the same operating hours as the mall and will run until the end of the year.

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Local Candy Shop is Donated Mall Storefront To Help Cancer Fundraiser

A sweet deal for Lisa Couture and her candygram store ‘Couture Candy PTBO’ as they were donated storefront space in Lansdowne Place to aid in their ‘Cancer Care is Sweet’ fundraiser announced Thursday.

Photo by Luke Best.

The new storefront is located in Lansdowne Place between Journeys and Claire’s at the bottom of the escalator. Couture Candy PTBO is occupying the space until the end of the year.

The mall contacted Couture via e-mail about being given the storefront space which came as an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. The mall recognized the candygram store’s community efforts which resulted in the offer Couture could not refuse.

“They were figuring out how to work with us and admired our business because it’s so community-driven,” explained Couture. “It’s expensive to be in the mall and he thought our campaign was a perfect opportunity and they have an empty space.”

The fundraising proceeds go towards the Peterborough Regional Health Center Foundation for cancer care with a goal of $10,000. The campaign started on June 21 and runs until Oct. 3. However, if the campaign is running strong and donations continue near the end date, it will continue according to Couture.

“$10,000 is a lot for a small business so every little bit helps,” said Couture.

The new Lansdowne location will require more staff as Couture is hiring. Photo courtesy of Lisa Couture.

The shop is selling select bags of candy where $1 of each product sold goes towards the foundations. Several charity candy bags feature freeze-dried brand candy and assorted mixes.

Donations can also be made at the store or online.

Their downtown location will remain in its original location with no plans to move said Couture. No dates have been announced for its grand opening but will have the same operating hours as the mall.

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