The surge of community support for the second annual Sundre Hospital Futures Legacy Gala exceeded one of the event organizer's expectations.
Gerald Ingeveld, chair of the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee, told the Round Up that last year's inaugural fundraising event had also surpassed his hopes, and that the bar was set even higher this year courtesy of the community's overwhelming and unwavering generosity.
"This was the third fundraiser this fall, and yet people are still donating and bidding," he said.
"They're willing to share to the great causes in the community."
The gala, which raises funds for local efforts to recruit and retain physicians and other medical professionals as well as build reserves for a new hospital in the coming years, was again sold out to its capacity of 240 seats at the Sundre Community Centre, he said.
Among the many people who spoke to the crowd during the event were elected officials Sundre mayor Terry Leslie, Mountain View County reeve Bruce Beattie, as well as the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre riding's MLA Jason Nixon.
In terms of donations for the live and silent auctions, there was approximately the same number as last year. But there were some bigger items this year, such as a snowblower valued at about $2,500 ó which was sold twice after the machine was donated back following the first sale ó as well as some collectible Calgary Flames paraphernalia, including signed hockey sticks and jerseys, framed photos, and game tickets, Ingeveld said.
Some of those contributions were made possible compliments of Blayne Sprole, who works for the Flames. Sprole, a Zamboni operator at the Pengrowth Saddledome with friends in the community, agreed to gather donations from the NHL team and even went through his own collection to contribute some items, he said.
"A lot of these outfits are pretty generous," he said, adding the Calgary Stampeders also donated a signed jersey.
Another big prize this year was a draw for a $1,000 travel voucher.
"There was some good stuff."
Members of the community were all bidding on the variety of items in both the live and silent auctions, in some cases even resulting in friendly bidding wars, he said.
"It was pretty impressive ó everybody was buying what was there and then adding to it."
Although a final tally had not been completely calculated last week when he spoke with the Round Up, Ingeveld said organizers estimated that roughly $30,000 was raised ó about $17,000 of which came from the live auction that featured Mark Daines of the Innisfail Auction Mart.
Ingeveld expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the gala this year.
"They've risen up and showed us how it's done."
The funds raised go a long way towards helping local efforts to seek out new health-care staff for the community, he said.
"Over the years, we've had quite good success bringing in some medical professionals into the community. The more we do, the more word gets out that Sundre's a pretty cool place to come to," he said, adding recruitment has over time become easier and that the municipality has built up a bit of a reputation at the Universities of Calgary and Alberta as well as Red Deer College's rural medicine programs.
Additionally, efforts have over time branched out from a sole focus on recruitment and retention to also take into consideration active advocacy for the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre to ensure the facility remains a vibrant part of the community, he said.
"We're starting to lay the groundwork we have to do to stay on the list to replace the hospital. There's lots to do yet," he said, expressing without hesitation the utmost confidence that securing a new hospital is not so much a matter of if but when, as well as what the facility is going to look like.
"Medicine has changed a lot over the years," he said, adding a future hospital in Sundre could potentially become a new training hub for modernized rural health- care services.
The existing hospital, which became a reality 50 years ago after more than 230 local women lobbied the Mountain View County council of the day, is nearing the end of its lifespan. Commercial buildings can only last so long, and codes and regulations have changed over the decades. Although he expressed unreserved pride for the exceptional service the existing facility has offered, the time has certainly come to start planning for a replacement, he said.
"It's tough to put a date on it ó the longest we can see is 10 years out."
However, Ingeveld said he is hopeful that a new hospital could be built sooner.
This year's gala featured several local medical professionals and practices that were recognized for providing outstanding service and top-notch health care to Sundre and the surrounding area, with a focus on celebrating the surviving members of the more than 230 women who persuaded the county council to approve a land redesignation for the construction of the hospital 50 years ago. Among that group of women attending the gala were Florence Vollmin, Annette Rose, Vi Hengen, Pat Toone, Dot Johnston, Vi Ellithorpe, Grace Worrall, Laura Klassen, Renee Gibson, Doris King, Tammy Skobleniuk, Joyce Lewin, Colleen Coggins and Isabella Bartholow.
"From that sprang the hospital auxiliary," he said.
Ellithorpe told the Round Up the auxiliary has purchased equipment for the hospital in the amount of about $1.1 million since 1967.
"I'm very, very proud of the people we were honouring," said Ingeveld.
"These are the people that I was looking up to when I grew up in the community as a child."
