Northumberland Hills Foundation is kicking off its 29th annual Light Up A Life campaign, aiming to complete an upgrade to the hospital's cardiac-monitoring system with a goal of raising $258,000.
Chief of Emergency Department and Acute Services Dr. Paul Ketov said he is proud to serve as chair for this year's campaign.
“While emergency medicine is often reactive, keeping our hospital up to date and replacing aging equipment with modern technology should not be,” Dr. Ketov said in the announcement.
“It is no secret our community is growing ad, together, we must be proactive to ensure that when patients come through our doors seeking care, we have the equipment we need to test diagnose and treat them.”
Proceeds of this year's campaign will support an upgrade to the hospital's cardiac-monitoring equipment that will include additional cardiac monitors and a new central monitoring system in the Intensive Care Unit. Building on the success of last year's campaign, this year's goal will raise the remaining funds required for this $.5-million upgrade.
“Present in many patient rooms, cardiac monitors are our electronic partners at the bedside and are instrumental in caring for some of our most vulnerable patients,” Dr. Ketov said. “These machines are so useful they are ubiquitous across our hospital and follow a patients' journey from the Emergency Department to stays in inpatient units and the Intensive Care Unit. Community support will help fund this critical equipment.”
Light Up A Life began as Light Up A Tree at the old Cobourg District General Hospital, with each donation lighting up one of the lights on the big Christmas tree set up at the Chapel Street entrance to the hospital parking lot. Top individual and top group donors won acknowledgment at the end of each campaign.
The 2003 move when Northumberland Hills Hospital was built changed the campaign to Light Up A Life. In both forms, over the years, the annual Yuletide campaign has raised almost $3.5-million to fund priority medical equipment and technology at NHH.
Campaign appeal letters will be making their way to Northumberland mailboxes this week, and two third-party fundraisers in support of this campaign are planned.
The third annual Family Christmas at the Spry Family Christmas Tree Farm (8329 Danforth Rd., north of Cobourg) takes place Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's a good day to shop for your Christmas tree (most of them priced at $70, except for the fir trees which are available for $100), and make a day of it with a warm bonfire, a delicious chili lunch, hot chocolate, coffee and treats – plus Santa on site to take photos with families.
JJ's Steak & Burgers in Cobourg (8 Elgin St. E.) is hosting a Christmas Tree Raffle this month for the chance to win a one-of-a-kind fully decorated tree. Drop by any time in November to purchase your ticket - $5 each or three for $10.