As Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) Foundation CEO Allison Young put it “Every gift helps.”
That sentiment resonated deeply on the eighth annual KGH Day of Giving (May 15) as the community raised $927,707.
“And every gift is a building block supporting better cancer care here at KGH and in our community,” Young added.
Debbie Robert, a close friend of the KGH Foundation who lost her husband Leo to cancer last year, shared her support.
“A cancer diagnosis is unnerving,” she said. “But knowing that we can improve cancer care here gives us peace of mind.”
The event was supported by matching donations of six local families, doubling the impact of every contribution.
Lindsay Taberner, Executive Director of Clinical Operations at KGH, expressed excitement about the future.
“This support allows us to bring forward new ideas and facilitate real change for cancer patients,” she said.
The Orchard Plaza Save-On-Foods organized a fundraising BBQ and a prize wheel in the hospital lobby to support the Day of Giving.
“Many of our team members have lost people to cancer,” said Manager Scott Nazaruk. “We hope our contributions make a difference.”
The day’s successes included contributions from local businesses. Pita Pit locations exceeded their $2,500 goal by raising $10,000, and realtor Darcy Nyrose inspired others to donate, raising over $10,000 himself.
Since its inception, KGH Day of Giving has raised over $5.4 million, supporting initiatives such as Foundry Kelowna, JoeAnna’s House, and the acquisition of a 3T MRI for KGH.
“Cancer knows no boundaries, but neither does the generosity of this community,” Robert noted.
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