News

Radiothon Bests Goal in Final Hour

Southwestern Saskatchewan residents and businesses stepped up to the plate the last couple of days helping the Pharmasave Radiothon for Healthcare surpass its goal.

The two-day event raised $152,600 in support of the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation which will use the funds to buy two pieces of equipment.

Jim Dekowny, the executive director of the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, said it took support for the entire southwest for them to hit their benchmark.

“All the way from Leader to down to Climax over to Maple Creek over to Herbert and everybody in between,” he said. “They all came together today and yesterday and allowed us to complete our mission and goal.”

Ted Hanlon made the largest donation during the event, writing a cheque for $25,000 on Thursday morning to kickstart the fundraising.

The funds raised during the 22-hour broadcast will help the non-profit organization purchase a new peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC Line) and a new blood assessment unit. Both pieces of equipment will be for the Cypress Regional Hospital.

“What this does, is it allows those residents of Swift Current and surrounding communities to be able to access this cutting-edge technology, this top-level healthcare equipment close to home,” said Saskatchewan’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health, Everett Hindley.

Swift Current’s MLA noted the foundation is critical for the southwest to help provide the area with equipment the provincial government doesn’t have funding for.

Another local influential healthcare voice shares the same mindset on the importance of the foundation.

“We would be lost without foundations in Saskatchewan,” said SHA Vice-Chairperson Tyler Bragg. “They do such fantastic work raising funds for not only capital but for example the scholarships here in Swift Current.

Bragg from Swift Current joined the SHA board during the COVID-19 pandemic and is taken back by the consistency of support the southwest shows annually for the radiothon.

“Every time I see that total, I’m amazed all over again because over and over people come up to the table and help support a great cause,” he said.