Royal Columbian Hospital Donation Day brings in $668,582 through inspired donors

Adrienne Bakker, President and CEO for Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation on site at Royal Columbian Hospital with Kirk McLean of the Canuck Alumni and Casey-Jo Loos, on-air host for The Peak 102.7

New Westminster, BC - October 9, 2013 - Yesterday was a very exciting day at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) with JRFM 93.7, The Peak 102.7, RJ1200 and Rim Jhim broadcasting live from the hospital campus creating a buzz and helping to bring in a whopping $668,582 for RCH Donation Day.

“Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF) is extremely grateful to all its donors! We are also appreciative of our enthusiastic media partners and our generous sponsors TELUS and ONNI Group, who worked so hard at making this day a success. Between phone calls, online gifts, walk-in donations, corporate and community organization gifts, we exceeded expectations,” said Adrienne Bakker, President and CEO for RCHF. ”All funds raised will go towards supporting priority needs, equipment, research, education at the hospital and the work of RCHF.”

“Our Dad and Founder of Kingston Construction, Ben Backman, was impressed with the care he received at RCH, and was happy to give back. Since he passed in 2009, our family business continues to support RCH in Dad’s memory. We hope you’ll invest in RCH in honour of your family’s health, too,” was Kelley Backman’s radio message. Backman is Office Manager of Kingston Construction, which committed $11,500 towards an equipment purchase.

Highlights of the day included an onsite visit and gift of $10,858 from the Canuck Alumni, represented by Kirk McLean. Other gifts included a $5,000 cheque from Rite Construction in Abbotsford. “Why did I give? Because RCH saved my life when I had a tumor removed. Of the all hospitals my choice is RCH because it provides the best care and the best staff. Everybody there is professional but friendly. You are treated more like family than a number,” said Charles Parent, President and CEO of Rite Construction.

“With plans to expand RCH into a leading-edge hospital campus, caring for the most critically ill and complex cases, this funding helps our medical teams continue to provide the outstanding and compassionate healthcare for which RCH is known,” said Bakker.

Royal Columbian Hospital serves 1.7 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar. That is effectively one in three British Columbians. It receives more trauma patients by air ambulance in the province than any other hospital, and 80 per cent of its high-risk maternity cases are from outside of the Fraser Health region. It is an increasingly important hospital in the Fraser Health network of care and in the province. The redevelopment of RCH will be the biggest redevelopment of any hospital site in Canada. For further information about RCHF or to make a donation, call:
604 520 4438 or visit: rchcares.com.

Centre of excellence

Royal Columbian Hospital is a Fraser Health provincial centre and regional referral hospital providing specialized care for trauma, cardiac services, neurosciences, mental health and substance abuse, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care for 1.6 million seriously ill and injured people from across the province. RCH is also a UBC teaching hospital with a Clinical Academic Campus.

Raising Funds

Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF) is a provincial and regional independent charitable foundation that raises millions of dollars annually to help fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at RCH. For more information about Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, visit rchcares.com or contact us on 604 520 4438.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Julie Coghlan
Director, Marketing and Communications
julie.coghlan@fraserhealth.ca
Office: 604.523.8860 | Cell: 604.360.0157

Shannon Henderson
Manager, Marketing and Communications
shannon.henderson@fraserhealth.ca
Office: 604.520.4809 | Cell: 604.614.8155