LAC LA BICHE - Across Alberta, organizations such as the Lac La Biche Regional Health Foundation raise money in support of local community hospitals. For some groups, when working in conjunction with government, staying out of the politics surrounding healthcare can be challenging.
However, says Allan Sinclair, board chair of the Lac La Biche Regional Health Foundation, this has never been an issue. The organization’s mandate is focused on hosting fundraising events throughout the year to support programs and purchase equipment for the William J. Cadzow Health Centre in Lac La Biche, and not getting involved with healthcare politics.
“We’ve always found it easy to stay out of the politics, because that’s actually not our job…we don’t have any impact on that,” Sinclair told Lakeland This Week.
Sinclair continued by saying that Alberta Health Services has always made it clear that the William J. Cadzow Healthcare Centre is being supported as a full-service regional hospital.
Sinclair stated that once a year, provincial government officials provide the group with a list of equipment and other items that are needed at the local hospital.
“Little banker for the hospital”
“We pick and choose from that list, and we fundraise to buy it,” he said. “So, we’re just simply almost like another little banker for the hospital to get what they need.”
Board members of the Lac La Biche Regional Health Foundation gathered at McArthur Place last Wednesday for the community organization’s annual general meeting.
During the AGM, various matters were discussed, including choosing a fundraising theme for the foundation’s annual games night, which will be taking place sometime next year. The second-annual games night took place on April 19 at the Bold Centre. According to Sinclair, over the past two years, the event has raised between $45,000 and $50,000 annually.
Let there be light
Last year, the foundation’s theme involved purchasing lights for the operating room at the William J. Cadzow Healthcare Centre, along with new access doors for the hospital’s extended care unit. The price tag for the lights was $80,000, while the doors cost $50,000.
However, for this year, the group decided to focus its efforts on raising money for two maternity items – birthing bed and an infant panda warmer. The combined cost of these items is $75,000.
Over the past year, Sinclair continued, members of the foundation have been busy participating in various fundraising endeavours. In addition to the games night, these included the Christmas cash raffle (which will be hosted again this year), a casino night in Fort McMurray, as well as the community golf tournament, which was held at the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club in early July.
As a fundraising organization, the Lac La Biche Regional Health Foundation frequently collects donations from businesses and individuals. However, as Sinclair explains, until recently, the group has not been able to take money by tap. This issue was fixed earlier this year, and those wanting to make donations or purchase tickets can now do so by electronic means.
“What we found over the last couple of years selling either 50/50 tickets or Christmas cash raffle tickets that people just don’t carry cash anymore…or they don’t use it, or they don’t have any,” he said.