Christian Gammon-Roy
Tribune
The West Nipissing General Hospital Foundation is hosting a Saint-Patrick’s Day concert on Saturday, March 16th at the Marcel Noël Hall in Sturgeon Falls. Roadhouse will be performing at the “Shamrock’n” fundraiser, the proceeds of which will go towards the purchase of replacement laboratory equipment for the WNGH. “I hope people come with friends and family, and come have some fun to benefit the hospital. It’s a nice opportunity to get out at a time of year where there might not be a lot of other activities going on. We’re very excited to see people come and celebrate Saint-Paddy’s with us,” says WNGH President and CEO, Sue Lebeau.
Tickets for the event are $30, and they are selling quickly according to Megan Lacelle, Lebeau’s Administrative Assistant. The foundation set a goal of 350 tickets sold, and so far, they’ve already gone through over 200. When asked what people can expect for their money, Lacelle says that Roadhouse is a high-energy band and the hall will be ready for plenty of dancing. Tables will also be set up for people to sit, some light snacks and alcohol will be sold, and there will be games too. Lacelle also confirms that a particular Saint-Paddy’s Day staple will be available: “Absolutely it’s going to have green beer!”
Since the purpose of the fundraiser is to help purchase fresh laboratory equipment, Sue Lebeau outlines just what the hospital is looking to acquire. “There are a few pieces of equipment that we’re trying to raise [money] for. Some is longer-term, like a chemistry analyzer. (…) The equipment that we’re going to purchase probably more immediately is two pieces.” The first of those is blood bank equipment, which as Lebeau explains, allows them to look for antibodies in the blood, ensuring that transfusions are done safely, and to determine blood-type compatibility. “This fiscal year, we’ve done well over 300 of those blood-group and antibody screens, and around 200 of the compatibility tests. So, it impacts a lot of lives,” she points out. The other machine they hope to purchase is designed to test blood gas. “That looks at how your lungs and kidneys are working to keep the blood gas levels appropriate, and with that one, we have done well over a thousand of those tests already in the year,” she elaborates.
When asked about the cost, Lebeau says the chemistry analyzer can go up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, whereas the other two pieces of equipment are approximately $25,000 for both. This upcoming fundraiser will certainly not cover it all alone, but it’s a step toward the goal. “You don’t have a hospital without a lab, you need that equipment, and you need the staff too,” stresses Lebeau.
If people are looking for a good time for a good cause, the WNGH Foundation invites them to come out on March 16th. “It is the first Saint-Patrick’s Day event that the hospital is hosting, but we’re hoping for a good turnout,” says Lacelle, adding that tickets are available at the Caisse Alliance or online via a link on the WNGH’s Facebook page.
Finally, Lebeau encourages people to join the Foundation as volunteers, as they are looking for people at all levels. “They can become part of the board of directors, which is a more long-term commitment, or they can decide to volunteer for individual activities,” she mentions. Although the board ultimately decides on the fundraising campaigns, she adds that any volunteer is welcome to bring up their own new ideas.
