(File photo/VHF)

By Teena Monteleone

Give a Little Life Day

Pandemic strengthens mission for Victoria Hospital Foundation radiothon

Dec 3, 2020 | 12:00 PM

For the 15th year, radio stations within the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG) in Prince Albert will team up with the Victoria Hospital Foundation (VHF) to present the ‘Give a Little Life Day’ radiothon fundraiser.

Together, they’ve raised millions for integral things like the endoscopy suite, operating room, and intensive care unit, but never has the need to donate been clearer than in the midst of a global pandemic.

“Healthcare is very geographical in nature, so the pandemic, if anything, has really brought that home for us as a community,” said VHF CEO Sherry Buckler. “Is there anything more important than having a hospital that can help us when the time comes that is nearby and has the right amount of newest and best equipment?”

This year’s fundraiser is an extension of the previous campaign that raised funds for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The foundation will purchase equipment to furnish the new unit including resuscitation kits, warming incubators, ventilators, rocking chairs for mothers, and pull-out beds for parents to sleep next to their child, among other items.

“It’s a little intimidating when you take a look at the goal that we’ve set but we can’t think of anything more important, particularly for our young patients who are born early or medically fragile. We want to make sure our hospital can keep them here first of all and second of all, we have the right equipment to care for them and the right amount of space so Mom can be near her baby,” said Buckler.

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While COVID-19 restrictions will prevent in-person donations from happening like they usually do in the lobby of the Victoria Hospital, alternate venues have been set up. Mann Northway GM has transitioned its service bay to a donation drive-thru allowing the public to contribute without leaving their vehicle. Donors can then bring their receipts to the nearby Tim Horton’s drive-thru on Marquis where they’ll receive a free coffee and donut.

The three JPBG radio stations, Power 99, Beach Radio and CKBI, will be broadcasting the radiothon live from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and the paNOW newsroom will be live blogging about the event on its portal throughout the day. It will feature dozens of interviews with families who have utilized the NICU, healthcare professionals and donors.

“We know how extremely critical this radiothon is for the foundation and Victoria Hospital, so we just had to find different ways to do it safely and the drive-thru is going to be great for that,” said JPBG Prince Albert program director Danny Kid. “We’re excited to once again be a part of an endeavour that’s had such a positive impact on our community for so long.”

In addition to the drive-thru at Mann Northway GM, donations can be made online at www.helpthevic.ca or by calling 1-855-816-LIFE (5433).

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow