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Continuing Education for Oncology Nurses

By Medical Staff Education
Keeping up with the latest knowledge in any discipline can be a challenge and medicine is no exception. We are committed to helping the incredible medical staff at NRGH provide the best patient care possible by funding participation in eligible workshops, conferences and other educational opportunities. The Hospital Foundation and medical staff are grateful to our donors who help us fund this important investment in healthcare for our community.
“On behalf of Rachel Gaskell and myself, Mercede Lander, we send a deep felt and appreciative thank you to the foundation for supporting our participation in the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba Oct 20-23, 2019.
The annual CANO conference provides us with valuable and applicable education and professional development specific to oncological care. Rachel and I were able to learn the latest best practice from experts in all aspects of oncology nursing, which in turn we are providing in service presentations to our colleagues at the Nanaimo Cancer Clinic leading to better care for our patients.”
Photo, from left to right, Mercede Lander, RN, BScN, CON (C); Linda Watson, President, CANO; Rachel Gaskell, RN, BScN

Photos with Santa at Country Club Centre!

By News

Photos with Santa is back! Until December 23rd, Santa’s Winter Garden at Country Club Centre provides a free, festive background where you are the director and photographer for your holiday photos! They also have a DSLR camera on-site for guests who would prefer Santa’s assistant to take multiple photos for them for a suggested $10 donation. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation. Visit www.countryclubcentre.com for all the details.

Coin Drive at Woodgrove Centre until Boxing Day

By News

Coin Drive for Charity on now until December 26th in support of paediatric care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital! Take your spare change to Woodgrove Centre and all funds collected will be donated to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation and used towards medical equipment and patient comfort items to help care for the hospital’s littlest of patients. Visit www.woodgrovecentre.com for all their holiday activities.

1,000 Teddy Bears for NRGH!

By Thank You!

Thank you to Sands Funeral Chapel – Nanaimo for their generous donation of Teddy bears! They have committed to donating 1,000 throughout the year with the first 250 arriving just recently. They will provide much comfort to many children receiving medical care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Photo: Sarah Smith, Laura McKinnon & Wendy Douglas, Sands Funeral Chapel

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.

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!

Support for Youth Activities

By News

Did you know? The Hospital Foundation funds more than just medical equipment and big projects. We also fund items that help improve the overall well being of our community.

We recently provided funding for the purchase of a ping pong table and paddles for Young Adult/Youth Group – Early Intervention Services; a service provided by Island Health’s Nanaimo Mental Health & Substance Use Community Services. Healthy activities for youth who are seeking support are vital and we are proud to contribute to this important area of care.

Photo: Staff members Kyla Smienk and Alyse Paquette

Longwood Brews Up Great Event!

By Thank You!

A big thank you to Longwood Brewery for their $2,000 donation! Funds were raised through their incredible event, Longwoodstock in September. The donation will go towards the new surgical suite for the Endoscopy Department at NRGH. This project is so important as up to 35% more colonoscopies will be able to be performed, a vital procedure that can prevent colon cancer if caught early. Learn more about our current campaign to raise the remaining $1 million needed to build the surgical suite at http://bit.ly/NRGHENDO

Photo: Janice Krall, CDO & Janice Perrino, CEO, Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation; Tracy McLean & Harley Smith, Longwood Brewery; Dave St. Jean, Longwoodstock Festival Director

Chix with Stix Support Nurse Education

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Chix with Stix Dragon Boat Team for their generous $1,500 donation.

Their donation is in honour of Holly Martina Vermeulen Paquette who passed away at the age of 9 months on January 10, 2019 as a result of complications from Influenza A. Chix paddler Amanda is Holly’s aunt and a former nurse at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. The donation will support nurses’ education in paediatrics critical care.

Their donation was raised through a combination of Paddlers’ annual dues and sponsorship contributions. To date, they have donated over $30,000 to support multiple areas of care for our community. We are grateful for their commitment and give our condolences to Holly’s extended family.

Photo: Janet Povey & Heather Mitchell