ESTEVAN — The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation has made significant strides in its Together We Can. MRI for Estevan campaign, with fundraising efforts bringing the total raised to $3.8 million, approximately 59 per cent of the campaign's $6.5 million goal.
The total includes the initial donation of $2 million by Estevan's Elaine Walkom, which started the project.
The campaign aims to fund the purchase, training and installation of an MRI machine at St. Joseph's Hospital to benefit the local community and reduce wait times across Saskatchewan.
"We are at $3,812,000," said Lori Gervais, executive director of the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation.
She expressed optimism about the campaign's progress, noting the substantial support from various sectors.
"We've had great response... reaching out to the RMs, the different municipalities, and the towns and villages that it's going to affect here in southeast Saskatchewan," Gervais said.
The foundation has been reaching out for support all the way to the Manitoba border, up to the Carlyle area and across the province. Gervais said they've approached 28 different RMs in the southeast, for which having an MRI in Estevan would be beneficial as it would decrease travel times for residents.
The campaign has also seen significant contributions from local businesses, organizations, and individual donors and families. The support has come from various quarters, including notable contributions like $53,000 from a 4-H steer by the Jaycee Ross family and over $10,000 from Lorne and Charlene Hanson, who donated a retro car to be sold through Mack Auction Company for the campaign, among many other contributions. Additionally, many local businesses and community groups, such as the St. Joseph's Health Care Auxiliary, McDonald's, the Royal Canadian Legion's Estevan branch, Encompass Fitness, SudZone, service clubs and many others, have also been instrumental in the fundraising efforts, Gervais said.
"None of that was anybody's idea but their own. Businesses had great ideas on how they can participate and have their customers help out as well. It's phenomenal."
She highlighted the widespread community backing, emphasizing the project's importance.
"People are behind the project, for sure ... The MRI machine is going to be beneficial to all of us in our community, as well as the entire Saskatchewan," Gervais said.
Despite a slight summer lull, the foundation continues to receive donations daily, both online and in person. Gervais encouraged ongoing community support, noting that people can donate online at any time at sjhf.org, send an e-transfer to [email protected], call the office at 306-637-2474 or stop by to make an in-person donation. Tax receipts are issued for all donations.
"Every donation, no matter how big or small, is very significant, and it's very important to everyone, because almost everyone … has a personal reason and has been through something with themselves or someone that they love, that an MRI was part of their health-care journey, and having it this close to home would have made all the difference," Gervais shared.
"So, anybody coming in to donate, whether it is $5 or $500 or $1,000, whatever the case is, they're all very important. If we can have this machine right here and change the travel times, the costs, the wait times, and all of those things, it's going to affect a lot of people.
"So, if you imagine that all those people who are affected could donate $5 or $10, we'd have it in no time. Donations are all important, big or small. It's all making a difference. We are at $3,8 million because of all of those donations."
Looking ahead, the foundation plans to ramp up efforts with upcoming events such as the Festival of Trees in the fall. Gervais remains confident about reaching the campaign's goal, thanks to the continuous generosity of the community and the dedication of the foundation's team.
Gervais expressed heartfelt gratitude to all supporters.
"We are eternally grateful to the community. Thanks to everyone who steps up and supports us, we never, ever feel alone. Any cause that we have, there are people behind us always, and we thank them," she said.
For more information or to donate, visit their website or follow the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation on Instagram and Facebook, where they post updates on the current fundraising efforts by community members and businesses.
Currently, the Rotary Club of Estevan is selling their Golf Ball Drop tickets with everything made on top of the prize money going towards the MRI campaign.
