Shining brightly
Lights for Life at Prince County Hospital draws crowd and funds
SUMMERSIDE – Bundled against the cold with many candy canes and hot chocolates in hand, hundreds of people gathered at the Prince County Hospital Wednesday night to celebrate Lights for Life.
Organizers estimated the crowd to be among their largest ever, approaching 2,000 people, as they celebrated the 25th anniversary of what is one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Prince County Hospital
Foundation.
The event includes the lighting of an expansive Christmas light display in front of Prince County Hospital, which will remain up until the end of December. Hundreds of Islanders donate to the campaign by sponsoring lights in the display.
Liz Maynard, Prince County Hospital Foundation Board president, announced the total for the campaign this year – $267,535.
Since the event started, it has raised nearly $4 million for life-saving equipment used at the Prince County Hospital, she added.
“Whatever your gift and however you made it, we thank you,” said Maynard.
All funds raised by Lights for Life support the PCH Foundation’s annual equipment appeal, called Vital Signs, which has a goal of $2.2 million in 2019. Gifts are accepted for Lights for Life until Dec. 31.
Qeturah Baglole and her family attended, taking in the light and music show and then took the time to snap lots of family pictures with the colourful Christmas light displays afterward.
Her son also made a donation to Lights for Life in memory of his grandfather (her father), she said, and they wanted him to see what his contribution was a part of.
“We’ve been coming for probably five years now, we come every year at Christmas time and it gets better and better. The kids love it; hot chocolate, singing, lights – what’s not to like,” she said.