Holiday Campaign Breaks Record
Donors give generously to help others

Shown demonstrating one of the existing ECGs utilized in the Emergency Room of the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre is Norah Doucet, Nurse Manager. The 2008 Light the Way campaign will be funding replacement hospital equipment at Cumberland's regional acute care centre inclusive of three new ECGs

AMHERST, NS (January 20th, 2009) – Faces we’re beaming at the Cumberland Health Foundation’s recent Board of Director’s meeting when it was announced that this year’s “Light the Way” campaign had not only reached its goal but had broken all previous year’s records for the holiday campaign.

“We’re extremely happy with the results but we’re also very thankful to the many generous donors who gave the gift of health to someone else this past holiday season,” said David Wood, Foundation Chair. Approximately $91,500 was collected for the purchase of needed medical equipment at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre such as 3 new electro cardiogram machines (ECGs).

An ECG can reveal anything from an irregular heart beat, to a heart attack that is happening now or has happened, to disease within the heart valves. It will also tell if the heart is not pumping forcefully enough, if there is a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, if parts of the heart are too big, or if there are any birth defects within the heart. ECG machines are used throughout the hospital and are commonly seen in critical departments such as Emergency or the Intensive Care Units.

Since its inception in 1997-98, the annual holiday campaign has raised in excess of $580,000. The 2008 Light the Way event broke all holiday records for the event at $91,500 with the next highest year being 2003 with close to $64,000 being raised. This year’s lighting ceremony drew over 300 individuals in addition to hospital patients viewing the event, choirs, and children’s activities. Over 1500 “holiday wishes” tray liners were colored by County elementary school children and distributed to patients with their meals this holiday season. As in previous years, the lighting show continued to run throughout the holiday season for patients.

“We have a number of other items currently awaiting funding on the hospital’s equipment list,” continued Wood “everything from Laboratory equipment to additional palliative care and surgical equipment. The additional monies raised will certainly assist us in our goal of enhancing health care here in Cumberland County.”

The Cumberland Health Care Foundation is a registered Canadian not-for-profit charity dedicated to enhancing the provision of a high standard of health care within Cumberland County by raising funds and supporting new and improved services, programs, equipment and facilities.