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9/11 Survivor Honors Husband with Global Philanthropy
9 Sep
Summary
- A Montreal widow is returning to Ground Zero for the 25th anniversary.
- She honors her late husband by building nursery schools in South Africa.
- She has overcome personal tragedies, including another partner's death.
Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Kimmy Chedel of Montreal is preparing to return to Ground Zero. Her husband, Frank Doyle, was one of 24 Canadians who perished in the South Tower.
Chedel has consistently honored her late husband's memory by living fully and pursuing healing. She initiated this by engaging in athletic challenges with family and friends, like swimming to Alcatraz and climbing Kilimanjaro.
Her healing journey evolved into a global mission. In 2017, she founded a project to construct 30 nursery schools in rural South African villages, with 19 now complete. These schools not only provide education but also vital resources like water and employment for the community.
Chedel's resilience has been tested by further loss, including the sudden death of her partner François in 2019, her father's death shortly after, and her own thyroid cancer diagnosis. She continues to find strength and purpose in helping others, a testament to her late husband's wish for her to "keep on living."
