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November 2019

Donation Inspired by Personal Connection

By Thank You!

Thank you to Cross & Company for their generous $2,500 donation! The funds will be used towards our campaign to build the new surgical suite for the Endoscopy Department at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Jared Cross, owner of Cross & Company, has a very personal reason for making the gift. His father received a colonoscopy at NRGH during which polyps were found and removed before they could turn into cancer. The new surgical suite will reduce wait times so our loved ones, like Jared’s father, can get this potentially life saving procedure sooner and closer to home.

Photo: Janice Perrino, CEO, Hospital Foundation, Jared Cross & Kennedy Baker, Cross & Company

Rotary Daybreak Has Successful 50/50 Fundraiser

By Thank You!

Thank you to Rotary Club of Nanaimo Daybreak and Nanaimo Clippers Jr. A Hockey Club! The Rotary Club raised the $2,161.25 donation by selling 50/50 tickets at the Clippers games. The funds get us closer to our goal to raise the remaining $1 million needed to build the new surgical suite for the Endoscopy Department at NRGH.

Photo: C-Dog, Janice Perrino, CEO, Hospital Foundation & Graham Calder, Rotary Daybreak

Dragon Boaters Reach $50K in Lifetime Giving

By Thank You!

Thank you to Abreast of Life dragon boat team for their generous $5,500 donation. To date, they have donated over $50,000 for healthcare in our community!

Their latest gift will help build the new surgical suite for the Endoscopy Department at NRGH. The new suite will help reduce wait times for colonoscopies, a vital procedure that can save lives. Used for diagnosing serious illnesses such as colon cancer, the sooner our loved ones can get a colonoscopy, the sooner they diagnosis and treatment.

Photo: Janice Perrino, CEO, Hospital Foundation, Brenda Dutton, Patricia Boychuk, Bonnie Rowley, Karen Thompson, Lucie Gosselin, Rosemary Lysak, Susan Lanziner

Kidney Foundation Grant Supports Renal Services

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch for their generous $10,000 donation!

Approximately 180 patients each year use the services of four Kidney Dialysis Units located at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, within the greater Nanaimo area, Port Alberni and Cumberland.

The $10,000 grant will fund the purchase of new medical equipment to provide even better care for dialysis patients in our region. The new temporal thermometres will be more reliable in reading body temperatures. The new blood pressure monitors will replace aging machines that are not reading as accurately as they should due to age.

Randy Spensley, second from left, is a kidney transplant recipient. As a dialysis patient himself for four years, he knows first hand the importance of medical staff having the most up to date equipment to care for patients. Due to the care and support he has received, Randy is doing extremely well. And as an Engagement Officer – Community Initiatives with the Kidney Foundation, he is helping raise awareness about kidney disease, resources available and organ donation.

Smile Cookies Raise Big Dough!

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Nanaimo Tim Hortons stores for their generous $18,314 donation and to all who purchased a Smile Cookie in September! We are grateful for the support we receive year after year for healthcare in our community.

To date, the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign has raised $149,000 for the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation and NRGH!

   

Starlight & Toys “R” Us Support Kids in Hospital

By Thank You!

The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is grateful to once again receive $2,000 from the Toys “R”Us | Babies“R”Us Canada grant program! The funds will help stock the Treasure Chest in the Paediatrics Department at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). The Treasure Chest toys provide a much-needed distraction for children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, while they receive medical care at the hospital. The toys can help patients face the stress of treatment or alleviate the boredom of waiting for the next appointment.

In the past year, thanks to Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and Toys“R”Us | Babies“R”Us Canada , NRGH has also received a Hospital Grant, Comfort Kits, Baby Kits, Baby & Toddler Kits, NICU/PICU Resources and other support for NRGH patients and their families. It would not be possible to provide all of these items without their funding. Their contributions are a valuable component of patient comfort and care for our young patients at NRGH.

The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is among 85 charities who received funding from the Toys“R”Us | Babies“R”Us Canada grant program to support distractive entertainment for hospitalized children. Nationally, tens of thousands of seriously ill and hospitalized children will benefit through other grant programs including the distribution of 7,000 Emergency Room Admit Kits; 10,000 Baby & Toddler Kits; and equipment for 100 NICU/PICU’s across Canada. Learn more about these and other incredible programs on Starlight’s website at https://www.starlightcanada.org/our-programs/

All of this is possible due the commitment and effort of Toys“R”Us and Starlight. Since introducing their fundraising program during 1998’s holiday season, Toys“R”Us Canada has been able to raise more than $20 million dollars for Starlight, supporting hundreds of thousands of during that time! In 2019, the eleventh year of the TRU grant program, over $1,000,000 has been distributed to hospitals across Canada.

Thank you Toys“R”Us | Babies“R”Us Canada and Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada for your generosity and support!

Haunted House Fundraiser

By Thank You!

Melanie and Keith Kirk created another spooktacular Haunted House in support of charity! Their incredible event has raised over $24,000 for the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation since their first one 20 years ago. We are so grateful for their support and are astounded by the creativity and effort they put into their Haunted House each year. Well done and thank you!

PetSmart Supports Teddy Bear Drive!

By Thank You!

Thank you to PetSmart Nanaimo for the donation of 500 stuffed toys for our Teddy Bear Drive again this year! The toys will provide comfort and a welcome distraction for children receiving medical care at NRGH. The stuffed toys can still be purchased at PetSmart in support of the Hospital Foundation and a portion of proceeds supports PetSmart Charities of Canada initiatives such as therapy dog programs!

Photo: Nicole, Jules & Shawn (Assistant Manager, Nanaimo) and Andrew (Store Manger, Duncan)