Closer by the minute
Stanton Hospital foundation has $500,000 left to reach $2.4-million goal

Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 03/99) - Donations have been pouring into the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation's fund-raising pot during the last month as the campaign nears its deadline to meet $2.4 million by March 22.

"The most recent (donations) have been large, averaging $20,000 spread over three years," said

Carol Walsh, manager of development for the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation.

Two of the most recent large donations are from Nova Construction's partners, Mike Mrdjenovich, Mike Hilchey, Kimble Doyle and Duke Savic for $20,000 and a $15,000 donation from Matonabee Petroleum's Brian Harrison and Butch Bisaro.

The Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation is only $500,000 away from reaching its goal of $2.4 million needed to equip the hospital with much-needed medical equipment.

The foundation has already raised $1.9 million in pledges and actual funds. So far, $391,240 of that total has gone towards purchasing four pieces of medical equipment currently in use at the hospital.

The foundation originally identified seven pieces of equipment in April, 1997, and began fund-raising to acquire those items.

One piece of equipment acquired in March, 1998, is an ophthalmic microscope used for eye and nerve surgery. Prior purchases from fund-raising efforts include a colour doppler ultrasound, purchased in late 1997, which uses infrared to highlight and project an image of a person's internal system onto a monitor.

The hospital was also able to buy an automated bacteriology system used to test for bacteria, and an infant ventilator.

"Those (four equipment items) were identified as the utmost urgency and we released funds early for those," said Walsh. The remaining items the hospital needs include a mammography unit, ultrasound unit and necessary renovations and staff training to accommodate a CT scanner -- all expected to cost $1.65 million.

Even though some pledges are committed to be fulfilled over a five-year period, the foundation still expects to have at least two of the remaining equipment pieces purchased and operational by the end of the year.

Walsh said the CT scanner and a mammography unit have been identified as being fairly equal in priority, and will be the next two items purchased.

The foundation is planning a wind-up celebration for March 22 at noon in the hospital's front entrance, to announce the total funds raised. Walsh said the foundation suspects it will be close to the $2.4-million goal by the wind-up celebration.

"As far as excess funds, should we have any, they will be held in trust (by the foundation) until another critical piece of equipment is identified," Walsh said.