Donna Grainger,
EKFH Executive Director
The East Kootenay Foundation of Health (EKFH) is preparing to roll out the largest public campaign in the organization’s history: A Clear View. Starting in October, EKFH begins a two-year, $1-million fundraising effort for the purchase of a digital stereotactic mammography machine for the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
The current mammography unit is eleven years old and utilizes soon to be out-of-date film technology.
The current unit also does not allow minimally invasive image guided biopsy. The arrival of a new digital stereotactic mammography unit will help the East Kootenay Regional Hospital become a centre of excellence in breast cancer screening and diagnostics.
Regional organizations and businesses have been providing lead gifts to the EKFH in support of the endeavour to reach a $500,000 milestone before the campaign’s official launch on October 3, 2011.
“The importance of lead gifts to the overall fundraising goal is one of the most critical factors of any capital campaign,” explains Donna Grainger, EKFH Executive Director. Grainger adds, “The foundation is particularly grateful for these lead gifts as it encourages and inspires others to join with us in the fight against breast cancer. It also gives us the financial capability to bring a digital stereotactic mammography unit to the regional hospital.”
The Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary has already pledged $250,000, a planned legacy gift continued of former auxiliary member Ethel Zentner. This is the campaign’s largest contribution to date thanks to a unanimous vote of support by its 250+ strong membership. Another $25,000 donation has also arrived from the Columbia Valley thanks to the members of the Invermere Health Care Auxiliary. Both leadership gifts demonstrate the powerful collaboration between the auxiliaries, the foundation and to health care in the region.
Many other organizations have also stepped up to the plate, including the Abreast in the Rockies Dragonboat Association ($15,000). Sandy Zeznik is a member of both organizations, and a breast cancer survivor. To Zeznik, the acquisition of the potentially life-saving piece of diagnostic equipment is a must—as it is for members of the Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary and to the survivors and their supporters who make up the Abreast in the Rockies team.
One of the missions of the Dragonboat Association is to raise awareness about breast cancer and the benefits of rehabilitation and physical activity for breast cancer survivors, said Zeznik. As a team pulling together, survivors and supporters draw strength from one another—and have the time of their lives doing so.
“Women with breast cancer can be strong and do well,” she said. “We’re not a support group, per se—we don’t hold hands and sing Kumbaya—but we are there for each other.”
The group is diverse, with paddlers ranging in age from early 30s to women well into their 70s. There are experienced athletes and those who have never been in competitive sports. They laugh together and, when they honour their fallen sisters during dragonboat ceremonies, they cry together. But mostly, they laugh.
“I love the camaraderie of women together,” said Zeznik. “We stick together and we’re learning together.”
In that, she speaks for breast cancer survivors everywhere, and those fighting to be survivors.
To date, A Clear View: a digital mammography campaign has raised almost $460,768 with early contributions from notable community and corporate leaders, including: Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary—$250,000, Invermere Health Care Auxiliary—$25,000, Abreast in the Rockies Dragonboat Association—$15,000, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #24 (Cranbrook)—$10,000, East Kootenay Shrine Club No.4—$8,327, Fairmont & District Lions Club—$7,260, CIBC Corporate – $5,000, Denham Ford (Cranbrook)—$3,920, St Eugene Mission Resort & Casino – $2,784, Astra Zeneca – $2,000, Rotary Club of Creston Valley—$1,017, Kinette Club of Cranbrook—$1,000, Kootenay Branch of BC Hydro Power Pioneers—$500.
To learn more about A Clear View: a digital mammography campaign, please go to www.aclearview.ca or www.ekfh.ca
