North Central Health Care Foundation Chair Peggy George poses with the paid off Digital Imaging X-Ray machine (North Central Health Care Foundation/Facebook).

By Aaron Schulze

North Central Health Care

North Central Health Care Foundation begins next fundraising campaign

Oct 2, 2019 | 5:31 PM

The North Central Health Care Foundation (NCHCF) has paid off one of its larger campaigns.

During its annual general meeting on Oct. 2, the NCHCF announced the $510,000 Digital Imaging X-Ray machine in Melfort Hospital has been paid for entirely thanks to one final $50,000 donation from Kinsmen Telemiracle.

NCHCF’s Chair Peggy George said the campaign took over two and a half years to complete.

“When I think about it and look back, I think it seemed like it was an eternity,” George told northeastNOW. “Hopefully it will last about 10 years and then we’ll have to start all over again, which is just the world we live in. Everything needs to be replaced and updated; it wears out.”

The NCHCF’s mandate is to enhance health care in the Melfort region with all money raised via donation or fundraising going Melfort Hospital or Parkland Place.

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“The provincial government provides some equipment but not all of it,” George said. “We have a wonderful facility here and great staff and medical personnel, and we want to keep them. By keeping things up to date and reasonable, we can retain that staff.”

Because the Digital Imaging X-Ray machine was paid off entirely, the NCHCF’s finances saw a drop. The cash resources dropped from $178,000 to $102,000, and net assets dropped slightly from $106,000 to $98,000.

The NCHCF also purchased 105 bed tables and two blanket warmers for Parkland Place that are expected to show up on next year’s financial statement.

“You’d always like [the finances] to be higher, but it is what it is,” George said.

“We’ve been fundraising a little heavier in the last two years and keeping our word out there. This is our work, we’re proud of what we’re doing, and it’s worthwhile. Health is an issue that will face everyone in their lifetime and we want to have the best equipment here.”

The next purchase on the NCHCF’s bucket list is a new $60,000 incubator to replace the old equipment at the hospital.

George said one way the NCHCF intends to fundraise for the incubator is with their radiothon taking place on Friday, Oct. 18 on 105 CJVR and Saskatchewan’s New Beach Radio. The NCHCF last held a radiothon in 2017 where George said nearly $165,000 was raised.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow