NEWS RELEASE
GEORGIAN BAY GENERAL HOSPITAL
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For the first two weeks of February, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is raising funds for surgical tools and instruments to help expand the type of surgeries available at GBGH. This year’s Kickstart Your Heart campaign will be supported by two incredible match gifts of $25,000 each, tripling the impact of every donation given between Jan. 31 and Feb. 14.
Since 2021, GBGH has been focused on increasing surgical volumes to reduce wait times for patients. To achieve this, the hospital has strategically invested in specialized surgical instruments and technology for gynecology, orthopedics, urology and ENT (ear, nose and throat). This year, the hospital will be investing in additional laparoscopic instruments and scopes that will allow for even more procedures to take place at GBGH.
“Growing our surgical program means that new specialists can come to our hospital and perform procedures on patients in our community in our operating rooms at GBGH,” shares Bonne Shum, chief of surgery, GBGH. “Patients can receive a more comprehensive range of care all while travelling less and staying closer to their homes. The addition of new operating tools this year also allows our surgical teams to provide excellent patient care that is in keeping with current standards in a setting where medicine and technology is constantly evolving and improving.”
In its first four years, the Kickstart Your Heart campaign raised more than $500,000 to replace all the defibrillators and crash carts at the Midland hospital, update the cardiac monitoring system and purchase a cardiac coil for the hospital’s new MRI. The annual campaign was first inspired by the Hubers, who consider their support of the campaign a gift to each other.
“Conrad & Donna are an incredibly generous local couple, who celebrate their love for their community through a match gift to Kickstart Your Heart each year,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “And, we are thrilled to have Steve & Brenda joining in this year, offering a triple your impact opportunity that will inspire our community to support GBGH over the next two weeks.”
Fifteen local businesses are also stepping up this year, offering special promotions that kick back a portion of sales to the GBGH Foundation. Individuals can show love for local businesses, the community and the hospital by supporting one of the participating businesses during the first two weeks of February. Bell Media’s Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1 are also collaborating with the GBGH Foundation to get the entire community involved.
“We love how the community comes together for Kickstart Your Heart each year,” shares Josh Duncan, program director, Bounce 104.1 and Pure Country 106. “To make it even bigger, we are offering a contest to encourage people to get out and support the businesses. Take a photo with the Kickstart Your Heart balloons found in any of the participating businesses, and submit it for your chance to win a gift pack worth more than $600.”
For more information on the campaign, contest and business partners, or to have a gift matched*, you can visit GBGHF.ca/KickstartYourHeart.
*The first $25,000 in donations to the campaign will be tripled.
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