Firefighters raise $1.44M for burn treatment centre

It took nearly two years of rehabilitation and surgeries for Don Adamson to recover after a short in his vehicle’s electrical system caused it to burst into flames, leaving him suffering from burns to 50 per cent of his body.

More than a decade after that 2005 accident, Adamson says the support of the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society has “meant everything” to his treatment and recovery.

Adamson was in attendance Thursday when the society presented a cheque for $1.44 million to the Calgary Health Trust for the burn treatment unit at the Foothills Hospital — a donation that will help other burn victims through the purchase of new equipment and improvements to the treatment centre.

Jim Fisher, the president of the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society, said firefighters choose the profession to serve the community and to help people.

“But, as firefighters, we also are witness to some hard and unfortunate situations where the very thing we are fighting and trying to prevent has the ability to change someone’s life in the blink of an eye,” he said.

Thursday’s donation was the result of three years of fundraising by Calgary firefighters, who have directed more than $8 million during the last 40 years to treatment, education and research helping burn victims.

Jill Olynyk, the CEO of Calgary Health Trust, described the society as “true stewards of the community.”

“CFBTS is an organization involved at every level of fundraising and dedicated to making a difference to the lives of Calgarians,” she said.

PHOTOS: GAVIN YOUNG Burn victim Don Adamson, who credits his recovery to specialists at the Foothills Hospital, was on hand as Calgary firefighters donated $1.44 million to the hospital’s burn treatment centre.

Thursday’s donation was the result of three years of fundraising by Calgary firefighters. The money will help burn victims at Foothills hospital.