Close to the Heart Campaign crosses the finish line
The Close to the Heart Digital Mammography fundraising campaign in support of purchasing new digital mammography equipment for the Cypress Regional Hospital has reached its goal after 12 months of fundraising efforts.
Jim Dekowny, Executive Director for the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, announced this past Thursday that the $350,000 is just a single fundraiser away from finally crossing the finish line.
“We anticipate that we’re going to have a very successful Taste of the Arts in Shaunavon. We will do that when it is right to do that, when the Health Authority and the government allows us to do that,” Dekowny said last Thursday. “Because of that, I think it’s fair to announce today that we’ve met our goal, or we’re close enough that with the Shaunavon fundraiser we’re going to beat our goal of $350,000 and get this unit in service.”
The Foundation held a series of fundraising events including a successful Kick Off Breakfast to launch the campaign, and they benefited rom major contributions by Hutterian Colonies and other fund-raising partners across the Southwest. They also received a $20,000 donation from Len and Evelyn Stein, a $5,000 donation from the Shaunavon Legion Poppy Fund, while the “G. Murray & Edna Forbes Foundation Fund” awarded a $10,000 grant through the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation.
“Today’s a great day for the Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation and for everybody that participate in the Close to the Heart Campaign. We’ve had small donations. We’ve had very large donations. Honestly we thought it was going to take a lot longer. We thought it would take a year and a half to two years,” Dekowny admitted.
He pointed to challenges in the agriculture and oil field sectors, as well as other challenges facing donors.
“I think right now people have stepped up and said this is important to the Southwest and the Saskatchewan Health Authority. It makes us really happy today that we’re in the next phase of getting the equipment ordered and ready to do.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is taking the lead on getting tendered bids on the equipment now that the financing is in place.
“The Saskatchewan Health Authority is thrilled to receive the funding for a new digital mammography machine. This machine will ensure that women in the southwest have access to the most up-to-date technology to accurately diagnose breast cancer,” Patti Shirkey, Director Rural Diagnostic Imaging, Saskatchewan Health Authority stated in a press release.