Monday November 24, 2003

LIGHT THE WAY - The sixth Light the Way Campaign is well on its way to achieving its target of $65,000 which will be used to purchase an ultrasound sonosite and an infrared spectrometre. The campaign was in the spotlight during last night's annual Christmas light-up at the Cumberland Regiaonl Health Care Centre. The ARHS band, including members Hillary Atkinson (left) and Ericka Webb, were among those entertaining the crowd during the celebration.

LIGHT THE WAY MUSIC MAN - AHRS band member John Vriend was one of the many prople on hand during the Light the Way light-up ceremony last week.

Annual Light the Way campaign striving to reach goal of $65,000 - Darrell Cole - Amherst Daily News
AMHERST - The Christmas season was officially kicked off at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre last night during the sixth annual Light the Way festivities. "Again this year, we sent out thousands of invitations to the citizens of our communities and asked that this Christmas you experience the grace of giving from a willing heart and that you make a donation to the Cumberland Health Care Foundation and thus to your hospital and health care," foundation chair Phyllis Cameron said."We've set this year's goal at $65,000 and we're happy to announce that as of tonight our total has reached $30,000."

Money from this year's campaign will be used to buy a portable ultrasound sonosite that can be used throughout the hospital as well as an infrared spectometre that will allow some patients to be assessed by providing a breathsample rather than undergoing a gastroscope procedure.

From its inception in 1998, Light the Way, which is one of three major fundraisers for the foundation, has collected over $150,000 to support the purchase of medical equipment for the regional hospital. Last year, the foundation set a record by raising more than $50,000, which also marked the first campaign at the new Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

The campaign will continue through the holiday season and donations will be accepted until mid January. Donors can purchase yellow lights for children for $1 and white lights for $10 while red lights are $20, green lights are $50, blue lights are $100, gleaming wreaths are $250, wreaths of hope are $400, radiant angels are $500 and guardian angels are $1000.

Just as in other years, the foundation honoured the largest single donor during the Light the Way ceremony. While groups including the Wandlyn and the Royal Canadian Legion have been honoured in the past, this year it was Crothol Services, who contributed $7,500 to the campaign.

Cumberland Health Authority chief executive officer Bruce Quig;ey congratulated the foundation on another successful Light the Way celebration, pointing out the light-up is a unique way to start the Christmas season and gives staff, patients and visitors the opportunity to catch some holiday cheer as they pass through the hospital entrance.

He also thanked the foundation for its efforts over the years and the contribution it has made to health care regionally. "Keeping up with the ever-changing technological aspects of health care could quite literally consume all of the CHA's budget, so knowing that we have the support of the foundation for special needs gives us added confidence as we manage the daily operations of this organization," Quigley said.