CORNWALL – A giving Cornwall and SD&G community has brought the Cornwall Community Hospital a third of the way toward having a chemotherapy unit.
The 13-hour Corus Caring Hearts Radiothon in support of the Cornwall Hospital Foundation raised $133,181.64.
It’s the second highest total since the radiothon started in 2006 and pushed the foundation past the $1 million mark since its inception.
“It’s amazing. I’m so pleased and grateful and thankful and it’s just been an awesome day,” says Foundation Executive Director Erin Killoran.
Killoran says the money will go a long way to cover the $400,000 chemotherapy department ($300,000 for equipment and $100,000 for the specialized room).
“We’re hoping to do that (raise all the money) by early fall because, the program, we’re hoping will be up and running by December,” she says.
The unit would have the ability to treat up to 275 cancer patients a year and help alleviate lengthy and expense trips to Ottawa and Kingston – both for the cancer fighters and volunteers.
As well, some significant donations have already came in that were not included in Thursday’s radiothon total, such as a $30,000 contribution late Thursday afternoon from the Rotary Club of Cornwall.
President Mike Aho tells Cornwall Newswatch the club’s 22 members have raised the money through November and December ham sales, the recent Pancake Day on March 28 and the upcoming Rose Day on June 13.
“What’s really good about the Rotary Club is that 100 per cent of those funds that are raised go back into the community. There are no admin fees. All the expenses are paid by the Rotarians themselves,” Aho says.
“We raise a dollar and we give a dollar.”
There are still more dollars to be raised and CHF Executive Director Killoran says Denim & Diamonds in June plus a couple of other special events this summer and fall will go toward raising the rest of the money for the chemotherapy unit.
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