By Cecilia Nasmith
The 26th annual Light Up A Life campaign was launched Tuesday for the purpose of replacing certain equipment that is in use at Northumberland Hills Hospital seven days a week, 365 days a year – 17 of its 127 beds.
Foundation executive director Rhonda Cunningham said that this annual campaign, launched in 1994, has to date generated $2.7-million for hospital equipment, “ranging from IV pumps, anesthetic machines and trauma stretchers to very large piece of diagnostic equipment.”
Registered Nurse Devon Weller, who is chairing this year's campaign, is what is called a medical-float staff. This means he works in many different areas of the hospital, Cunningham explained, and has an intimate knowledge of why the hospital beds are a good choice for this year's campaign.
Weller came to NHH three years ago from a large regional hospital in Thunder Bay, and was impressed that this smaller community hospital seemed as well equipped as the bigger one in Thunder Bay.
“They informed me the generosity of this community makes it possible,” he said at the 2019 Light Up A Life launch.
“This, in turn, allows us to provide exceptional patient care.”
Some of the beds now in use were original equipment when NHH opened in 2003. They are no longer as functional as they could be and, at any rate, newer beds offer improved ergonomic and safety features for the benefit of both staff and patients, such as built-in bed alarms for patients at high risk of falls. Weller is also impressed with the built-in weigh scale – patients who could not be transferred out of bed for this purpose without a great deal of exertion (for staff) and discomfort (for patient) can simply be weighed at the touch of a button.
The fundraising goal for this purchase is $170,000, Weller said, and almost 5,000 appeal letters will soon arrive in local mailboxes that he hopes will meet with a generous response.
The foundation selects equipment it wishes to support with input from such experts as front-line staff, and then employs a scoring process that involves such issues as patient safety – and whether the equipment has received what Cunningham called end-of-life notification. Typically, this means that the equipment is so old that the manufacturer will no longer be able to service it.
Weller is the first RN to head a Light Up A Life campaign, Cunningham pointed out. Typically, the campaign will be headed by a physician (and, on one occasion, a respiratory therapist). But given the equipment due to be replaced by this year's Light Up A Life, she is pleased to have someone at the helm who has such an intimate knowledge of what is needed.
“Nurses work with these beds day in and day out, and they have the best knowledge of these important safety features we are looking to invest in.”
Cunningham was delighted to express the foundation's appreciation to two community partners who have supported Light Up A Life for some time – and both of whom have Dec. 7 fundraisers in support of this year's effort.
Anne Sauve of YMCA Northumberland described the changes that have been made in recent years to the annual Reindeer Run/Walk, which splits its proceeds 50-50 between the Y's Strong Communities Campaign and NHH (and has raised $11,000 for the foundation).
The hope was to make it inclusive and family-oriented, and the result is an event for every member of the family.
For the 17th annual event this year, parents can decide which of two children's events are right for their youngest family members – the Reindeer Chase, designed for children aged five and under, and the 1K Reindeer Dash for older children.
At 9:20 a,m,, Sauve said, Dasher (their mascot) will dash around Victoria Park with the little ones in hot pursuit. Then, at 9:30 a.m., he will be in the vanguard of the Reindeer Dash (though she expects he'll leave off after a few minutes, having eluded the younger Reindeer Chasers first).
Runners and walkers are both welcome to choose between a 3K or a 5K course, starting at 9:45 a.m. If children are still up for accompanying their parents, she said, they are welcome to do so.
The idea of a friendly event means no prizes, though the first-, second- and third-place winners for the 1K, 3K and 5K event will be announced And the ninth-place finisher in each will get special recognition (and nine apples, thanks to a generous donation from Moore's Orchards) in honour of Rudolph – Santa's ninth reindeer and, arguably, the only one with his own theme song.
As well, all race participants receive a family or individual day pass to the Cobourg or Brighton Y.
Registration is $5 per Reindeer Chaser and $10 per Reindeer Dasher. Otherwise, individual registration is $20 ($10 for seniors), and a family of up to eight (with a maximum of two adults) can register for $40.
Register on-line at runningroom.com or in person at the Y or at the NHH Foundation office – or at the event at 8:15 a.m. at St. Peter's Anglican Church (240 College St.) – where a post-event celebration will also be held for everyone to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies (catered by the Dutch Oven) and all kinds of prize draws and give-aways supplied by even more community supporters (more than $3,000 worth last year, Sauve said).
And if you'd rather help out by volunteering, she added, that would be wonderful too.
Fortunately, Cunningham said, that leaves the afternoon free for the Spry family event – the Family Christmas At The Spry Christmas Tree Farm that has raised $39,000 for Light Up A Life over its first four years.
For $60 per family, you can choose any size of Christmas tree from their farm, and also take a break around the bonfire with hot chocolate, treats and holiday music. Then, when you pack up the tree, you can also take along a souvenir family photo with Santa to remember a wonderful day together.
The farm is located at 8329 Danforth Rd., north of Cobourg. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 100% of proceeds go to Light Up A Life.
