meet our team
Jillian Best
Executive Director, Founder
I dream to make a difference in the lives of those waiting for an organ transplant.The Move For Life Foundation fuels my desire to shorten the waitlist and increase chances of survival, by financially helping transplant programs across Canada to attain what they need to perform as many life saving transplants as possible.
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I have a hereditary disease, (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, or H.H.T) which required me to need a life saving liver transplant in 2016. Organ donation has played a vital role within my family. My mom would not be here today had she not received 2 life saving liver transplants.
Since the transplant, I’ve been more dedicated than ever to my health, and wanting to share the joys and benefits of living a healthy lifestyle with others. I have since gone on to compete in swimming at the World Transplant Games where I currently hold 5 world records in my age group!
I live in London, Ontario with my husband and two pugs where I run my own business as a hairstylist. I am always looking for a place to swim and have a good time outdoors!
I am excited about the mission of the Move For Life Foundation, and as the executive director of the foundation, I plan to work with my team for years to come, making a difference in the lives of many, and making an impact on organ donation across Canada!
Sylvie Charbonneau
Advisor
Hello, my name is Sylvie. I am a retired entrepreneur, but mostly I am the mom of two and the grandma of two. In 2012 my son was in need of a kidney transplant and I decided to become a living donor. After the transplant, I felt I was getting my son back as he went from always feeling
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weak and tired to becoming healthy and full of energy. He returned to competing in swimming and participated in his first World Transplant games in 2015 in Argentina. My husband and I were part of this adventure to encourage and support him. Being surrounded by transplant recipients for a whole week, seeing them swimming, running, playing tennis,celebrating life and promoting a healthy lifestyle was my motivation to go back to training. They were thankful for their second chance at life, and I felt I had to be thankful for my life too. I’ve had the honor to serve on various foundation Boards in my career. When I was asked to be the Move for Life Board advisor, I couldn’t say no. I take every opportunity to support organ transplant.
Benoit Raymond
Director, President
I always wanted to make sense of my Kidney disease and the transplant that came with it. I first accomplished this by competing on the world stage at the World Transplant Games. Now, as the president of the Move for Life foundation, I wish to showcase even more what transplant can do. I was diagnosed
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with a degenerative kidney disease in 2004, while in my second year in University. The transplant has changed my life forever, as I was really starting to fade around 2011-2012.
Since then, I have competed in 3 World Transplant Games (Argentina, Spain and England), won 13 medals and broke 2 world records in the swimming events.
Born and raised in Montréal, I still live here with my girlfriend. I have a Business degree and I work in the technology field.
I continue to swim as much as I can and to showcase the wonderful power of transplant!
Daniel Santos
Communications/Social Media
I am a grateful newcomer who wants to give back to the community the same passion and affection I have received since I arrived in Canada. I am a professional marketer with 16 years of experience in Marketing, Digital Marketing, and Advertising agencies. I grew up professionally in a traditional marketing environment before Big Ben
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of Digital Marketing. I belong to the analogic/ digital generation. For the last six years, I have been working with Digital Marketing, content writing, paid ads, SEO and everything that involves digital marketing. I saw an infinite passion in each team member for helping save transplanted lives or those on the transplant waiting list. I'm happy to be able to apply some of my skills to help the powerful M4L team support the transplant cause and mission
Grey Brett
Director, Secretary
I was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, an untreatable and progressive autoimmune disease, in 2005. I decided, at that time, to relentlessly pursue my dreams as much as possible while the disease afforded me the ability to. I lived and worked in Bermuda and then Grand Cayman for a number of years at which time my daughter
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was born. Eventually, in 2015 and back home in Toronto, my liver failed and a month later on June 20, 2015, I received a new liver from a selfless deceased donor. Since that time I have dedicated a large portion of my life to the cause that has saved mine. Speaking at numerous school and corporate events while trying to lead as an example of what transplant sport can do for recipients, I've been able to showcase people's ability to overcome at all odds. I'm a member of the Canadian Transplant Swim Team where I've represented Canada at two World Transplant Games in Malaga, Spain and Newcastle, England and won numerous medals and have set 7 world records.
I want to motivate and inspire other transplant recipients to take advantage of their second chance at life by leading healthy and active lifestyles.
Han Oung
Communications
Helping those in need of a transplant and working towards ensuring that everyone who needs a transplant receives one has been an important cause of mine since my own diagnosis and transplantation. I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) when I was 15,eventually requiring a kidney transplant,
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which I received in 2015 after almost four years of
peritoneal dialysis.
Experiencing illness not only motivated me to give back to the transplant community but also inspired me to do all the things I was unable to when ill, including sports and activity. I started figure skating as an adult as a way to keep healthy and challenge myself, soon becoming passionate about the sport and committing to practicing three times a week with hopes of one day competing in adult-level competitions!
I currently live in London, Ontario where I graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BSc in Medical Sciences. I also hold an MSc in Public Health with hopes of pursuing a
career in the medical field and using my knowledge to improve people's health nationwide.
Becoming a part of the Move For Life Foundation has been an honour as I get to take all of my interests (helping others, activity, and transplant medicine) and put them towards a great mission!
Brad Tilson
Director, Treasurer
I am forever grateful for the extra 25+ years me and my family were given with my grandfather after he received a heart transplant. This has given me the motivation to be more involved in an initiative regarding Organ Transplant. We all have it in us to give families the gift of time, as mine was given. I am very excited to
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be a part of this new venture with an amazing team. I was born and raised in London, Ontario where I also received a B.E.Sc. From the University of Western. I am an Electrical Engineer and Principal at Smith + Andersen. I have always been involved in athletics and thrive on pushing and challenging myself. Currently I am training and competing in Olympic Weightlifting as a Masters athlete. Most importantly I am a father of four and husband (….to one), which has allowed me to master the art of patience and selective hearing.