Sometimes it’s a bit challenging when you get ahead of yourself, but for members of Groves Hospital Volunteer Association and Groves Memorial Community Hospital, that’s a good thing.
The 300 members of Groves Hospital Volunteer Association were ahead of themselves when they presented a cheque for $225,000 to the CT Plus – Imaging For Our Future campaign. It was just one year ago that the association presented its first cheque, in the amount of $110,000, to that campaign.
The total contribution of $335,000 in the past year puts the association ahead of schedule in its efforts to fulfill its $500,000 pledge to the CT Plus Campaign. The volunteers hope to complete their pledge by May of next year – a full year early.
Association president Norma Seibert said, “As everyone knows, this $225,000 donation is towards the CT scanner. We think it is a very important item for the community.”
She said the more items in the hospital the bigger the attraction for physicians and other health care professionals to Groves.
“I want to say thank you to all the hard working volunteers – especially to Carol Kirby, director of fundraising.”
Seibert joked, “This is my bonus I’m giving you guys.”
After the laughter subsided she quipped, “not every CEO would do that. We are pleased to be giving this donation to the hospital,” she said noting this donation will be one of her last major duties as full president.
Seibert will be replaced in October by Rob Gilbert.
Kirby was also pleased to be ahead of schedule. Money is raised through the organization’s two second-hand stores, gift shop and television rental program.
The association provides in-hospital patient support services and raises funds to augment the foundation’s efforts. The association welcomes new volunteers; call 519-843-2010, extension 206.
The Groves foundation is committed to providing financial resources to assist the hospital.
The foundation raises funds for the hospital’s capital campaigns, for equipment to ensure technology is available to keep it on the leading edge; ongoing medical education for health care professionals; and specific projects or programs.
Renovations for the scanner began at the hospital around a month ago and the unit should be operational this fall. The facility will serve patients who need non-invasive computed tomography imaging tests to aid in diagnosis of ailments and injuries.
It is a painless, sophisticated X-ray procedure that takes multiple images, which are then integrated into cross-sectional pictures (slices) of soft tissue, bone, and blood vessels. A CT scan obtains images of parts of the body that cannot be seen on a standard X-ray. Those scans can result in earlier diagnosis and intervention in many conditions involv ing the brain, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, to cite a few applications. In all, the project will cost about $3-million for equipment, renovations and staff training, all coming from fundraising.
To accommodate the new scanner, Groves is creating 140 square metres of space and renovating an inner courtyard adjacent its radiology department.
Local MPP Ted Arnott continued his appeals this week to Ontario Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty to include a new Groves hospital in the province’s 10-year capital works plan, expected this fall.
"We have a plan and proposal here and we’d like to see it moving forward," Arnott said. The unit will be placed in temporary housing at Groves, and later moved when the new hospital is built.
To make a donation, contact the foundation office at 519-843-2010 extension 268.
