WELLINGTON COUNTY – The 22nd annual CKNX Healthcare Heroes Radiothon will have eight Midwestern Ontario hospital foundations coming together to celebrate local health care on Oct. 21.
The Radiothon will be broadcasted in its entirety over CKNX AM920 with hourly updates on 101.7 The One and Cool 94.5.
CKNX will devote the day from 9am to 4pm for the Radiothon.
Listeners across midwestern Ontario are asked to phone in and make donations to any one of the eight hospital foundations participating this year.
“In 22 years, we have raised $13.8 million in support of local hospitals, which is a remarkable accomplishment for smaller, rural hospital foundations,” said Radiothon chair Amy Van Huss, development officer at the Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation.
“It’s a tribute really to our donors and the folks that support the radiothon within our catchment areas.”
The government only provides a certain amount of funding for hospitals, and patient care equipment is not covered.
The community is a main reason local hospitals have equipment such as IV pumps, diagnostic scanners and surgical scopes.
Participating this year are Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation, Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation, Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation, Walkerton and District Hospital Foundation, Wingham and District Hospital Foundation, Hanover District Hospital Foundation, Seaforth Community Hospital and Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.
Palmerston
The Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation has set a goal this year to raise $175,000 to go towards its $8-million goal for the MRI campaign, which kicked off this summer.
The foundation raised over $167,000 last year, which went to purchase two colonoscopes and one gastroscope for surgical services.
Mount Forest
The Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation has set a goal for this year’s radiothon of $125,000 towards the purchase of an ultrasound echo machine.
The machine uses sound waves to examine the heart and surrounding blood vessels. It is also essential to identify and diagnose a host of cardiac-related conditions.
Last year, the Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation had a goal of $90,000, and raised $151,000 that went toward a steam autoclave, a machine that uses steam under pressure to sterilize equipment.
How to donate
For those interested in contributing to a local hospital’s fundraising goal, there are a few different ways to donate.
One is by donating on Radiothon day by dialing 519-357-1310 or toll free at 1-877-CARE 4 U 6 (1-877-227-3486).
For those who do not like talking on the phone, texting is an option as well. In the month of October, text HERO + (hospital town – i.e., “Palmerston”) to 41010 to give $10 to the local hospital chosen.
There is also a 2023 donation sheet located at cknx.ca that can be printed and handed in before or after Radiothon day.
Donations can be accepted online through Canada Helps at canadahelps.org.
You may also visit the website of hospitals participating and donate to them directly.
