By Kellah Lavoie

Residents step up and donate thousands for Give a Little Life Day

Dec 4, 2010 | 8:57 AM

It was a 12 hour campaign to raise money.

Yesterday was Give a Little Life Day – a radio-a-thon and the Victoria Hospital Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser.

Cecile Hunt, Prince Albert Parkland Health Region CEO, said all the money raised will go to updating equipment in the operating room.

“It is about moving some of our equipment forward,” she said, explaining all of the hospital staff is appreciative of the generosity shown by Prince Albert and area residents.

“Today means we got a lot closer to that goal. We were a little short of our $400,000 goal, we’re hopeful there will be more donations, they were still donations coming in when we signed off at 6 o’clock,” said Rob Dalziel, executive director of the Victoria Hospital Foundation.

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When Rawlco Radio signed off at 6 p.m., there was already $355,275 raised and donations were being accepted.

“We experienced this last year when we were a little bit short of our goal, but people rolled up their sleeves and said let’s make this happen and let’s get this done,” he said explaining they are still taking donations and hope to have the full amount within days.

Hunt said the hospital is grateful.

“We do received support from the Ministry of Health and the Government of Saskatchewan, but this ability, this local fundraising is critically important to all of our facilities, but especially the Victoria Hospital.

“There is a real significant demand for new technology. It helps us attract new staff, keep new staff and most of all provide the best possible are to our patients,” she said.

The upgrades the money will fund will help make surgery sooner, smarter and safer, she said.

“It’s going to upgrade some of our equipment, especially our laparoscopic equipment. Move it forward – just like computers evolve, the same thing with our operating room equipment,” she said.

While they are both overwhelmed with the outpouring of support, they are not surprised by what Prince Albert and area can do.

“We roll up our sleeves, the people of central and Northern Saskatchewan, and we just get it done,” said Dalziel.

“Literally thousands of people, over a thousand people phoned in their donation from $50,000 from the Rawlinson family, from Malcolm Jenkins and Canadian Tire, all kinds of donations.”

The Victoria Hospital Foundation will be updating the total amount raised when the numbers come in.

klavoie@panow.com