The Saint John Regional Hospital. (Image: Brad Perry)
Get ready to give all day Thursday — the Love Your Hospital Radiothon is back.
The annual fundraising event takes place from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Saint John Regional Hospital.
Jeff McAloon, CEO of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, says the funds raised this year will go toward a big renovation project at the hospital.
“We’re expanding and renovating our ambulatory clinic. That clinic serves over 40,000 people from across New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island every single year,” he said.
“It was designed and built with the original blueprints of the hospital, so it hasn’t been touched since the early ’80s, and it really needs some attention.”
McAloon says the designs for the renovation are almost complete. A number of clinics will be moving to different areas of the hospital at the end of March.
He says construction is expected to start in May and should last 18 months.
McAloon says the Radiothon is a day of celebration for the hospital.
“It’s also a chance for the community to share their stories of why they feel that this hospital is so important,” he said.
McAloon says their goal this year is to surpass what they raised last year.
“Last year we raised over $280,000 so it’s a big, big target to beat, but we think we’re capable of that. Our community gets behind this hospital every year. More and more people seem to hear about this and want to show their support with either a $5 gift or a $50 gift,” he said.
He said last year’s amount of $280,000 was significant.
“A quarter of a million dollars in a day, that’s a substantial amount of support from our community, and we’re grateful for every dollar of it,” he said.
McAloon says their lead sponsor this year is CIBC, who have already donated $100,000 to the campaign.
McAloon says the annual event holds a special place in his heart.
“I risk sounding a little bit cheesy, but it really is a special day. People tell us stories about how the hospital has impacted them, and the amazing care that they receive from the nurses and the physicians and the therapists and the thousands of health professionals that work there. People in our community want to get behind them,” he said.
Donations can be made by calling 648-7500, online, or in person at the hospital.
He says five CIBC branches from St. Stephen to Rothesay will also be accepting donations throughout the day.
