Cancer Care, Close to Home campaign SURPASSES $6M goal

The North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation campaign, Cancer Care, Close to Home, has successfully generated community support totaling $6,335,670 for medical equipment to improve and transform cancer care, close to home. The equipment needs that the campaign focused on included two new CT scanners and equipment upgrades for the lab, surgery, endoscopy, telemedicine and palliative care. Having the most advanced medical equipment for screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, is critically important for early detection and diagnosis, key factors that impact outcome. The campaign recognized the importance of providing care close to home and minimizing the hardship of travel.

The campaign cabinet was led by honorary campaign co-chairs, businessman Ted Thomson and Barbara Minogue—serving in place of her late husband Peter.

“Our 26 cabinet volunteers worked tirelessly over the last 30 months, engaging and inspiring generous support. Dedicated and passionate about their hospital and serving their community, they responded with their enthusiasm and their personal donations,” said Minogue at the campaign celebration.

“Our immense gratitude and thanks to the entire district for responding to our community’s healthcare needs and having an impact. Our hospital is now providing advanced levels of care for our friends, families and loved ones,” said Thomson.

The celebration recognized the generosity of 122 leadership donors; corporations, businesses, service organizations and individuals. “Every gift counts, whether it comes from a child’s lemonade stand, a loyal monthly donor, or a generous one-time gift from an individual, group or business, and together our community has shown a commitment to this campaign from the start, and we are incredibly grateful,” said Tammy Morison, President and CEO of the NBRHC Foundation. The campaign received a huge boost thanks to generous leadership gifts from the Terry McKerrow Cat Scan Operating Fund in 2017, and Max and Lorraine Shapiro in 2018.

NBRHC was able to replace its aging CT scanner and add a second, as a result of the campaign.

“A second CT scanner allows for safer and more accurate scans, as well as doubling our capacity to provide patients with timely scans,” said Dr. Jeff Hodge, radiologist at NBRHC. “With a second CT scanner almost 1700 more scans were completed last year than the previous year. NBRHC has been able to introduce new programs such as CT colonography. Early detection can be life-saving for certain types of cancer.”

North Bay resident Kim Kanmacher and her family are expressing their support and appreciation for the Cancer Care, Close to Home campaign. In the summer of 2017, Kanmacher was shocked by a diagnosis of breast cancer. Speaking at the campaign celebration, Kanmacher said she was fortunate that her cancer was diagnosed and treated quickly. “Having local access to state-of-the-art technology and equipment is so important! Thankfully, my surgery, recovery and chemotherapy all took place at the hospital in North Bay, minutes from my home. It was such a relief and a blessing to be in my home community with my family and friends here to support me.”

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CONTACT:
Kendra Clarke, CFRE
Campaign Director
North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation
kendra.clarke@nbrhc.on.ca
705.492.5274