 The Tree of Dreams atop Penticton Regional Hospital is now fully lit for the Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation's annual fundraising campaign. |
The seventh annual Tree of Dreams fundraising campaign by the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation has gained a $100,000 boost from the estate of an area resident.
Janice Perrino, the foundation's executive director, said the unexpected bequest brings the total raised to date to $568,513 - enough to light up the campaign's entire tree on the roof of Penticton Regional Hospital.
"For us to raise more than $400,000 at Christmas is very unusual, so this estate was just a miracle," she said. "The community is always there. It's amazing."
The foundation hopes to raise $632,500 by April to purchase a number of badly needed equipment items at Penticton Regional Hospital and a new operating table and lights at the Summerland Health Centre.
Perrino noted the operating table and lights have already been ordered, thanks in large part to a $145,000 donation from the Summerland Healthcare Auxiliary.
Among the larger remaining items included on the equipment list are an ear, nose and throat navigation system for sinus surgery, two new heart defibrillators for the emergency ward, and sentinel node probe to dissect breast cancer lymph nodes.
Donations can be dropped off at the Medical Foundation office at PRH or mailed to 550 Carmi Ave., Penticton, V2A 3G6. For more information, call 250-492-9027 or 1-866-771-0994.
