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$150,000 donated in support of Cardiac
Care
April 26, 2011
 “We
know cardiac disease touches the lives of most families in
our community, and we want to help make treating it less stressful
for them,” Fort William Rotarian Gordie Garriock said
today as she presented a cheque for $150,000 to the Thunder
Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
Today’s donation, in support of the Foundation’s
Northern Cardiac Fund, helps fund the second cardiac catheterization
lab at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The
second lab brings 24/7 access to emergency angioplasty –
the Gold Standard of cardiac care – within reach.
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Interventional cardiologist Dr. Mark Henderson
noted the need for cardiac care in Northwestern
Ontario. “The demand for angioplasty continues
to grow, and we are meeting it,” he said.
The challenge, however, lies in providing both interventional
and diagnostic services in one lab. “Our capacity
to accommodate both angioplasty services as well
as diagnostic services like angiograms will improve
when we have two operational cardiac catheterization
labs. Thanks to donations like this, that day is
just around the corner,” Henderson explained.
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About $500,000 remains
to be raised in support of the second cardiac catheterization
lab project. “As we look to a future with continually
expanding cardiac care for our region, we know that
the need for donations will be ongoing,” says
Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Foundation.
“We remain confident that the people of this
community, because they value world-class cardiac
care, will continue to support our Northern Cardiac
Fund.”
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Past donations have made
a tremendous impact on the level of cardiac care available
to the people of Northwestern Ontario. Lori Marshall,
VP - Planning, Medicine, Cardiology, Mental Health
and Maternal/Child, said community support enables
our Health Sciences Centre to be a leader in cardiac
care. “Other centres look to us as a model for
the delivery of cardiac care. Our stand-alone angioplasty
program and award-winning cardiac rehabilitation program
are just two examples of patient services that define
standards. We simply couldn’t do it without
donations,” she said. |
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“That is precisely
why the Fort William Rotary Club is making this donation
today. We know we can have a positive impact on the
quality of cardiac care here in our community through
our support of the Health Sciences Foundation,”
Garriock noted. ”It will save countless lives
and allow patients to stay in the community to receive
treatment and recuperate, surrounded by family and
friends.” |
Funds are raised through the Fort William Rotary Club’s
House Lottery. This year’s draw, which will be held
on July 1, offers a grand prize of a 1,729 sq ft home in Sherwood
Estates valued at $378,000. $75,000 in early-bird cash prizes
will also be drawn, including a special $25,000 prize on May
11th. Tickets are available at the Health Sciences Foundation
office and other locations throughout Thunder Bay.
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