WELLINGTON COUNTY – Two local hospital foundations have received over $220,000 thus far from donors to the 22nd Annual CKNX Health Care Heroes Radiothon.
By the end of the Oct. 21 Radiothon, donors had contributed a total of over $105,000 to the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation’s MRI campaign.
The Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) Foundation generated more than $118,000 through the telethon. The funds will be used for an ultrasound echo machine, used in the diagnostic imaging department.
LMH Foundation development officer Amy Van Huss said the fundraising “is a remarkable accomplishment for our small, rural catchment.”
The totals for the two north Wellington hospitals make up nearly half the amount raised during the event.
When the Radiothon went off air at 4pm, the grand total of funds raised on the day was $488,221 for the eight participating hospitals in mid-western Ontario.
Radiothon officials state the total is expected to grow as the participating hospital foundations continue to accept donations towards their projects until the end of the year.
Continuing with a virtual format this year, donations were accepted during the all-day broadcast on AM920, “which featured touching stories of patient care, as well as interviews with health care professionals and volunteers outlining the urgent medical equipment needs at each hospital,” states as press release from the LMH foundation.
“A number of philanthropic businesses and organizations, including the Walter J Blackburn Foundation, Bruce Power, Germania Mutual Insurance, Axiom Mutual Insurance, Brussels Optimists Club and Howick Mutual Insurance, directed special gifts towards several hospital foundations,” the release states.
The telethon benefits foundations serving hospitals in Palmerston, Mount Forest, Clinton, Hanover, Listowel, Seaforth, Walkerton and Wingham.
Since its inception in 2002, the radiothon has raised more than $14 million in support of quality health care for rural area hospitals.
To find out how to contribute to your hospital’s radiothon goal, visit cknx.ca/health-care-heroes-radiothon.
