HATS ON FOR HEATHCARE
Fundraiser for diagnostic imaging
Windsorites donned their hats Tuesday for the 10th annual Hats On For Healthcare, which this year raises funds for the diagnostic imaging department — including new 3D technology. Windsor Regional Hospital hosted the annual event at the Met Campus, complete with fun activities for staff and community members including music, pizza, a visit from local elementary school Hugh Beaton, and an appearance from Topper — the event mascot. Hats On For Healthcare cochairs Elaine and Harvey Snaden wore timely, funky Mardi Grasstyle hats for the occasion. “We’re excited to be doing it,” Elaine said. “It’s for a good cause — the diagnostic imaging department for both the Met and Ouellette campuses. We know that’s a service used by most people that come through the hospitals so we’re very happy that we can contribute to them.”
For 10 years the community has put on their hats to support local healthcare and have raised more than $300,000 in the process. “We’re asking lots of people to be involved and just make small donations,” Elaine said. “We’re really pleased the community’s been so generous and supporting it over the years. It’s allowed us to support a lot of different areas of the hospital.”
The event has been a success since the start and continues to grow. Hats On For Healthcare raised nearly $50,000 last year alone.
“When we started we raised I think $10,000 the first year — we could hardly believe it,” Harvey said. “It’s such a simple thing and I think that’s why people like it too, it’s so easy to do and there are no rules. If you can’t do it today, do it tomorrow.”
Besides raising money, Hats On For Healthcare inspires fun fashion.
“It’s seeing the smile on everybody’s face when they put a hat on,” Harvey said. “You see the pictures of all the workplaces and in the hospital, at schools, wherever, and people can’t resist smiling when they do it — and that’s really nice.”
Part of the funds raised this year will go toward a new mammography machine expected later this year.
“A new technology that we will be looking at is three-dimensional technology,” said diagnostic imaging manager Claudio Pullo. “That makes our imaging more precise, especially when we’re doing biopsies. It makes it a little easier to find our destination and hopefully the biopsy is a little bit more comfortable for our patients.”
Funds will also go toward replacing an array of old diagnostic machines and maintenance on current ones.
Each year Hats On For Healthcare selects a different department to fund. Past years included the neonatal intensive care unit, mental health, and renal dialysis and now diagnostic imaging, said Gisèle Séguin, director of public affairs, communications and philanthropy.
“The committee just felt that’s something that really affects everybody,” Séguin said. “You can’t treat anything unless you have the diagnosis first so it’s an important part of the hospital for sure.”