Sandra Schmirler Foundation donates $10,000
Will help purchase neo-natal ventilator for hospital
Bernadette McIntyre, Vice Chair of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation presented Ross Fisher of The Health Foundation a cheque for $10,000 during the Meridian Canadian Open curling event in Yorkton Jan. 18.
The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created as a legacy to three time world curling champion and Olympic gold medalist, Sandra Schmirler, in recognition and celebration of her love of family.
Approximately 700 babies are born each year in the Yorkton hospital. Some babies are
born with respiratory conditions causing them to have difficulty breathing or cannot breathe without assistance. The Yorkton hospital needs a ventilator designed for newborns.
This donation will assist the purchase of a neo-natal ventilator, a ventilator designed to work specifically with newborn babies, for the maternity department of the Yorkton Regional Hospital. This will be the same equipment in use in the Regina and Saskatoon NICUs. The transportation team that comes to the Yorkton Regional Hospital to pick up sick babies also uses this same equipment.
The Sandra Schmirler Foundation raises funds for hospital Newborn Intensive Care Units to purchase life-saving equipment for premature and critically ill newborns, giving each the chance to grow up and be a champion, like Sandra.
The Foundation was created in May 2001 by a group of Sandra’s friends and teammates. Their vision was to create a living legacy in honour of this amazing woman from Saskatchewan, one who touched the hearts of so many Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Photo above: from the left, Jerry and Gayle Webster of Yorkton, who have donated to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation 15 of the 20 years the SSF has existed; Ross Fisher; Bernadette McIntyre, vice-chair of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation; Joan McCusker, who curled with Sandra Schmirler, winning the gold medal at the Nagano Olympics.
Donation puts digital mammography campaign over the top
Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer makes $15,590.45 donation
"We are very happy to announce that we have completed fundraising for the new digital mammography machine. It is very fitting that our final donation came from Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer as we have worked with Leone and Greg on a number of fundraisers during the year," said Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation.
"We are very grateful for the support that our Local Cancer Initiatives Program received in 2019," says Leone Ottenbreit. "Having great partners like Ron Kaban at Yorkton Hyundai, the Terriers, the Maulers, Tim Hortons, the other local businesses that held their own events benefiting us, along with all of the Yorkton and area residents and businesses that engage in our barbecues, pancake breakfasts, birdhouse sales and other events throughout the year, we are able to make this donation to The Health Foundation and enrich the lives of local cancer patients. With all of that support, we were able to raise well over $30,000 for the new digital mammography equipment."
“This is a difficult year for many businesses and individuals because the economy is so slow," Mr. Fisher noted. "For our community to come together and help us raise $500,000 in less than a year so we can put new state of the art breast cancer screening and diagnostic equipment in the Yorkton Regional hospital speaks volumes about the businesses, services clubs and individuals in this area."
Photo above: Greg and Leone Ottenbreit make the donation on behalf of Close Cuts for Cancer that put the digital mammography campaign over its $500,000 target.
Yorkton and district realtors donate $36,000 for healthcare
Support STARS and helipad for new regional hospital
Yorkton and area realtors presented cheques to both STARS and The Health Foundation totaling $36,292 on On Dec. 10, in support of two organizations that provide vital services to the communities throughout the region.
"Yorkton and area realtors have been committed to supporting local charities through our previous Council, brokerages and individually, and we wanted to ensure that our final contribution as a Council was shared amongst two worthy organizations that would support all communities within the region," said Elyce Wilson, Chair of the Yorkton and District Council of REALTORS® (YDCR).
"Healthcare affects everyone and that was an issue that all of our members could see ourselves as an organization supporting. Once we settled on healthcare we wanted to do something that would help people right away, but also into the future. That is why we’ve made this donation in the way we have," said Ms. Wilson.
Photo above: Yorkton and district real estate agents presented over $18,000 to STARS, the provincial air ambulance system, and to The Health Foundation for a helipad at the planned new regional hospital.
Edgar and Doreen Thorson donate $10,000 for ICU
Edgar and Doreen Thorson, who farm near Preeceville SK, have made a contribution of $10,000 to The Health Foundation to assist the purchase of new telemetry monitoring equipment for the ICU.
"We wanted to make a donation in memory of my sister Esther," said Mr. Thorson. Esther was a nurse who had tremendous experiences working in hospitals throughout western Canada, but she came home to Saskatchewan to finish her career and be close to family. For the last 10 years of her career she worked at the Yorkton Union Hospital. In 1982 she became the Director of Nursing in the Yorkton hospital, a position she held until her retirement on her 65th birthday in 1989.
Photo: Esther Thorson
"Esther loved her work and that is one of the reasons Doreen and I wanted to make a donation to the Yorkton Hospital. Esther was an operating room nurse for many years and she knew the importance of good nursing care and of nurses having the equipment they need to do their job as well as possible. Making a donation for equipment needed in the Intensive Care Unit seems very appropriate," continued Mr. Thorson.
"The Health Foundation is grateful for this very generous donation. Remembering a loved one in a manner that will help other people carries a special significance to it. We have placed a commemorative plaque recognizing this donation in memory of Esther Thorson in the ICU waiting area," said Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation. "We felt there needed to be lasting recognition of a gift of this significance."
Our events
Airwaves for Health
The 13th annual GX94 and FOX FM Airwaves for Health Radiothon will be held April 29 and 30. Harvard Broadcasting covers all of the costs of the radiothon, so 100% of donations go toward buying medical equipment.
Charity Golf Classic
The annual Charity Golf Classic is held at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton in June. Golfers and sponsors raise money to buy medical equipment for facilities in the region.
Rhythm 'n Ribs
The third barbeque and music festival is held in late July at the Exhibition Grounds in Yorkton. It is a free and family-friendly event with something for everyone.
Road Race and Walk
Whether you want to run 2k, 5k, 10k or 21k and compete against others, or walk 5k at your own pace, the Charity Road Race and Community Walk lets you compete and contribute in August.
The Gala
The annual late-October gala, with a unique theme that changes every year, provides a social evening with dinner, dancing, and a silent auction.
Farming for Health
Each spring local agri-businesses and people seed the crop, and harvest it in fall. The result is that Farming for Health has raised more than $1 million in its first five years. And still going strong.