Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Thanks to a generous community over the last year, Lennox and Addington County General Hospital has been able to experience its own version of ‘If I Had A Million Dollars.’
All told the LACGH Foundation raised $1,054.540 over the last year, and with it the hospital did a lot more than just put Dijon ketchup on their Kraft Dinner.
A large portion of the funds-$628,00 worth of it-was used to cover the cost of the hospital’s chemotherapy unit expansion, from five chairs to nine. On Wednesday the foundation formally presented a cheque in that amount to LACGH board chair Allan MacGregor.
“We depend on (the Foundation) a lot for support financially and so by extension of that, the community,” he said. “We’re very thankful for the Foundation.”
The largest portion of the million that was raised went to COVID-19 related support. A total of $118,664 was spent on virtual care for cardiac rehab, music, art and horticultural therapy, anxiety tools and support, iPads to strengthen social inclusion and connection to family and mental wellbeing and stress relief supports.
Pandemic preparedness came in at a cost of $55,000, which included the COVID-19 assessment centre, personal protection equipment and auto pulse, which reduces air born particles.
An industrial washer and dryer to assist with infection control were purchased for $4,228. Additional Clorox 360 Electrostatic Sprayer for infection control was purchased for $6,774, as were jackets to protect against the transmission of microorganisms when outside the clinical areas at a cost of $3,161.
While COVID-19 costs took up a large part of the hospital’s budget, the needs in other areas remained. The Foundation was able to complete its pledge of $300,000 to replace LACGH’s entire fleet of IV pumps.
Meanwhile staff in the DI/CT scan, OT, LTC and Clinical departments were able to upgrade their skills thanks to $7,875 worth of educational training.
“We’re always fundraising,” said LACGH Foundation’s Adrienne Harris-Hale. “(The chemo unit is) now paid for but there will always be something to raise funds for. We can’t wait until three months before they need the money to start fundraising.”
Though the community has been so supportive over the years, this year’s totals are all the more impressive.
“It’s been hard because we haven’t had our normal avenues of fundraising,” added Mike Airhart, a member of the LACGH Foundation. “The golf tournament, the gala (both had to be cancelled). We’ve got some pretty smart people that are involved with the board and we’ve had a few different things that we try to roll out, with the Catch the Ace and the crowd funding initiative online platform.”
Airhart added that they are tentatively planning to bring the golf tournament back this summer, if health and safety protocols will allow for it to happen. The Catch the Ace progressive lottery is ongoing and tickets can be purchased at ace-lacghf.com.