OLDS - Supporters of the Olds Health Care Fundraising Committee’s latest campaign gathered Saturday, April 29 at the Cow Palace to enjoy a night out and raise funds for surgical equipment at the local hospital.
The Barn Dance event featured beef on a bun, the musical stylings of Girl Crush and a mechanical bull along with a silent auction, with all proceeds going to this year’s campaign – operating equipment for Olds Hospital and Care Centre.
Since 2000, the committee has taken a lead role in enhancing health care in Olds through targeted fundraising. The last campaign raised more than $128,000 for panda warmers.
Committee chair Liz Mills, said about $30,000 had been raised to date in the latest campaign to purchase items on the hospital's surgical department’s wish list which includes a GlideScope.
“This has been one of our smaller campaigns. The economy hasn’t been great. Everybody’s kind of being careful these days,” said Mills, adding the committee was grateful for all who attended and supported Saturday’s event as well as those who had donated to the cause thus far.
Mills said ideally, the committee raises money for “the extras” that enhance care.
“But everything is so expensive these days, that there’s a priority system. And Alberta Health Services, it’s very careful with everybody’s taxes. It spends what it can but there are still other things that will make the service better. And our purpose as a committee is to enhance health care in our community. So that’s what we do."
The surgical program at Olds Hospital and Care Centre provides patients with local access to orthopedic, gynecology, urology, podiatry and emergency obstetrical surgery services.
It has become a hub for day surgeries, said Mills in a speech during the event.
“By being able to increase the number of surgical cases Olds is able to complete, we can help reduce wait times while continuing to support the health and well-being of our community,” she told the audience.
She said AHS is incredibly grateful to the Olds fundraising committee, the donors and the community for the ongoing support to the Old Hospital and Care Centre.
“Together we’ve done some amazing things and can continue to do so in years to come. Now, it’s not the committee that does the donations, it’s the community. We just direct it. So thank you everyone,” she said to applause.
Others who spoke at the event included Dr. Jaco Hoffman who has been the facility medical director of the Olds Hospital and Care Centre for years. He thanked the community for its support and praised the surgical department's nurses and doctors, many of whom were in attendance.
