The local BMO Bank of Montreal branch is donating $3,000 to local charities.
100 Mile House BMO branch manager Kerry Patterson says when it raised the money, the team at the bank put there heads together to decide who the recipients would be.
“We won a couple of BMO contests in the summer for sales that we had in the branch. So, we decided we wanted to donate that money back into the community.”
The group then looked at the needs of the local community and discussed it with their workmates to come up with a plan. It was decided that the first $2,000 would go to the South Cariboo Health Foundation (SCHF), but earmarked the money specifically for the chemotherapy consultation room at 100 Mile District General Hospital.
“We have a couple of members here on our team who have been affected by cancer recently, and one of them is going through treatment at the chemo clinic here in 100 Mile. So, we wanted to put the money back into the clinic.”
The other $1,000 was allocated to KidSport, which Patterson notes also stays in the community.
“We believe that kids should be able to play sports, and it is a big way to help toward their fees and [gear] for people who can’t afford to put their children into sports.”
Patterson explains it hasn’t yet been determined what the donation for the chemo clinic will be used for, since the SCHF must obtain purchasing approval from Interior Health, which kicks in 60 per cent of a total donation.
However, the BMO team hopes it might be something like iPads to give the patients something fun to do to help pass the time, she adds.
The health-care professionals at the chemo clinic have been “absolutely amazing” to BMO’s staff currently going there regularly for treatment, she adds, so they wanted to give back to them, and to the patients.
“So, if future patients are there receiving treatments, then maybe it will be just a little bit more enjoyable, if possible.”
