The volunteers who comprise the Pembroke Regional Hospital Auxiliary and have long been committed to improving local healthcare through financial support of the hospital have come forward once again and announced a $1 million gift towards the purchase of an MRI.

Auxiliary president Mary Olsheski said the obvious need for such a diagnostic modality made for an easy decision by the auxiliary’s executive and membership on where next to channel the group’s fundraising activities, noting that already, $369,000 has been paid towards their pledge.

“It is a credit to the hardworking volunteers that we are able to donate so much money,” Mrs. Olsheski said. Numbering close to 200, the volunteers annually contribute approximately 20,000 hours of service through activities which not only bring in large amounts of money for the hospital but also provide a variety of much-appreciated services for patients, visitors and staff.

Such activities include operation of The Mural Café and The Sunshine Gift Shop, the sale of H.E.L.P.P. lottery tickets, volunteer hours at Bingo Country, in-hospital TV rentals and operation of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), as well as special events and projects such as the Fall Tea and Memorial Fund.

OBSERVER ON BOARD

Along with recognizing the auxiliary’s contribution, the hospital foundation has announced that The Daily Observer has come on board as a liaison with the community to keep the public informed as to the ongoing progress of the Image Matters campaign.

“After meeting with managing editor Peter Lapinskie and news editor Anthony Dixon, I am pleased to announce The Daily Observer has agreed to publish a regular update on the campaign both in the newspaper, as well as in their weekly publication The News and on their website,” said Nancy Warren, executive director of the hospital foundation.

This support is on top of the regular press releases and photographs that will appear throughout the campaign to recognize significant donations toward th $4.5 million goal.

“As the hospital continues to expand its role in regional cancer care, orthopedics and stroke services, an MRI is essential,” Ms. Warren said. “At present, the nearest MRIs are a three to four-hour round trip to Ottawa or Kingston and travel can be costly and difficult for many,” she added, underlining the need for an MRI in Renfrew County as soon as possible.

“The Daily Observer is pleased to work with the Pembroke Regional Hospital to keep the public informed of the progress of the MRI campaign and hopefully our regular updates will serve as a reminder to those who have yet to make a donation that there is no time like the present,” said Daily Observer managing editor Peter Lapinskie.

Watch for the first campaign update in next Wednesday’s (Oct. 17) edition of The Daily Observer and next Thursday’s edition of The News as well as on the Observer website, www.thedailyobserver.ca.

PRH President and CEO Pierre Noel said since its inception in 1960, the PRH Auxiliary has raised significant funds to enhance the healthcare services provided in the region.

“Our hospital recognizes and is extremely grateful to all the volunteers who donate so many hours to make the auxiliary so successful,” Mr. Noel said.

“Thanks to the auxiliary’s commitment to this project, we were able to launch our MRI fundraising campaign at the halfway mark, having raised approximately $2.25 million of our fundraising goal,” added Mr. Noel.

With files from the Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation.

peter.lapinskie@sunmedia.ca