Local events drive $1.8M mammography fundraiser to finish line
The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation has successfully raised the $1.8-million required to build a Mammography program at Georgian Bay General Hospital. More than 700 individuals, businesses and community groups made donations to bring this important service to GBGH, including three events at the end of July which helped close the campaign.
The Glenn Howard Charity Golf Classic on July 18, the Olive Oil & Wine Dinner at Rawley Lodge on July 24, and the Cedar Ridge BBQ on July 26 collectively raised more than $430,000. These volunteer-run, community events brought together a collective audience of more than 350 people in support of early detection for breast cancer through routine screening.
“It was a powerful week for our community with so much generosity and love for GBGH,” says Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “The magic is watching each person make a contribution that’s meaningful to them – whether through an auction bid, donation or ticket purchase – and seeing how the collective results make a significant impact for health care.”
Today, there are more than 16,000 residents in the GBGH catchment area (patients age 40-74) who are eligible for the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) mammography imaging, but currently they must travel nearly 50km for this vital diagnostic test. Adding Mammography at GBGH is a natural fit, as the hospital already offers other breast health services, including breast tissue biopsies, breast MRIs and breast cancer surgery.
“We know that screening and early detection for breast cancer is key to saving lives, and we are committed to designing a program that makes this service more accessible for our community,” says Matthew Lawson, president & CEO, GBGH. “Thanks to the incredible generosity through our Foundation, we can move forward with renovations for the mammography program this Fall.”
For anyone interested in learning more about the mammography program at GBGH, click here.
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