Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Friday, April 27, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Stanton Territorial Foundation is raffling off a $10,500 diamond to raise money for new beds at the hospital.

It's the latest donation in an eight-year partnership with Ekati Diamond Mine that has helped the foundation raise $200,000, said Linda Bussey, the foundation's executive director.

"It's an excellent charity to support," said Deana Twissell the senior external affairs officer with the mine

The diamond is on display at Birchwood Gallery, where the raffle tickets are also for sale.

Bussey said the $20 tickets sell well in Yellowknife and at the mine site.

"We were astounded with how much was raised in the past," Twissell said. Last year the raffle sold $34,477 worth of tickets.

This year the foundation has decided that the money will go towards new beds for Stanton.

Bussey said the foundation works closely with the management team at Stanton to decide how the money will be spent. The cost of the new beds for Stanton is approximately $700,000, Bussey said.

"What we're looking for is electronic beds," Bussey said. "These beds help people in the hospital have a little more independence."

The last campaign raised money for a $100,000 machine that measures bone density.

Along with the diamond the winner wins a trip for two to the Ekati Diamond mine site and $1,000 to have the diamond set.

Bussey said she's seen the diamonds be set as pendants and rings in the past.