"Branching out” for Light the Way

Shown are Lisa Sangster, RN - chair of Light the Way accepting the donation of 6 trees from Thornton Moore (far left) and his son of the Christmas Tree U-Pick located on the Mansbridge Road, near Oxford Nova Scotia.

AMHERST, NS (November 2, 2007) – “It’s my way of saying thanks”, said Thorton Moore as he made his unique donation to the Cumberland Health Care Foundation while backing his truck up to the rear doors of the regional hospital, “I spent some time here this year as well as another family member, and everyone was just so nice and caring to me – in fact they were just great! It’s my way of saying thanks for helping me by helping you!”.

Thorton and his wife, Kim run the U-Pick Christmas Tree Farm near Oxford on the Mansbridge Road and when contacted by “Light the Way!” Committee member, Carol Embree, to inquire if they would donate the trees used in this seasonal campaign to help buy needed hospital equipment, it was an automatic “when do you need them by”.

“They’re just perfect”, said Lisa Sangster, Chair of this year’s “Light the Way!”, “they’re full, really well shaped and I know they’ll look incredible with the updated lights combined with the new animated lighting and sound show. Each year, the Cumberland Health Care Foundation’s “Light the Way!” campaign seeks to raise funds for new or replacement hospital equipment. This year, the goal is to raise just over $50,000 to provide for five (5) new defibrillators at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

This year’s “Light the Way!” event will be held on the evening of Wednesday, December 5th starting at 5:30 with the lighting occurring at approximately 6pm. “We’ve made a fair amount of changes for our tenth year,” said Managing Director Joe Gauthier, “we wanted the event to be in a more sheltered area, have it easier for patients and families to come participate, and to update it to be more energizing for children and youth.” Performances that evening will include the Oxford FunTones, the Amherst Cadet corps band, and a recently activated hospital choir. Face painting, beverages and treats will also be available for younger children.

Bright yellow invitation/donation envelopes will be arriving to every household in Cumberland and nearby Westmorland-area County in the coming week with an invitation and information on “Light the Way!” and how to support it. Donations to “Light the Way!” can also be made at the Cumberland Health Care Foundation office located at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, by calling 902 667-5400 ext. 6210 or by visiting the website www.chcfoundation.com.