Fix-A-Heart, the fundraising campaign partnership between participating Greater Victoria Canadian Tire stores, and the cardiac unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital, returns Nov. 24 to Dec. 24.
Donate $1 at the till when you make a purchase at the View Royal, Hillside or Royal Oak locations, and be part of the growing community of Islanders who have enabled the growth of technology to treat heart health.
Kim Reynhoudt, franchisee of the View Royal location said that since the campaign launched in 2003, close to $740,000 has been raised to purchase leading-edge cardiac equipment. Proceeds from this year’s event are earmarked for the purchase of a C-arm machine, enabling doctors to perform higher-quality angiograms, the diagnostic test that produces high-definition images of the heart and blood vessels. Angiograms enable the cardiac team to establish the most efficient life-saving treatment for a patient.
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Dr. Imad Nadra, an interventional cardiologist with Jubilee Heart Health, says the availability of this equipment is important for multiple reasons.
“To attract world class doctors and care, you need world class equipment,” he said.
Reynhoudt echoed that statement: “They don’t waste money there. The people running the cardiac unit have developed a unit that is top-notch. It’s considered the top in North America and doctors who want to teach and learn come from all over the world.”
The campaign was made personal this year for Tracy MacSwan, an employee at the View Royal location, whose husband was treated for heart arrhythmia at Royal Jubilee’s cardiac unit.
“As time goes on, I like to know there is going to be equipment there for myself if ever I need it,” MacSwan said.
“The effort we put in today will have equipment there for people for tomorrow, and for me, that means a lot.”
MacSwan said she frequently sees customers in the store who she knows have been patients at the cardiac unit.
For that reason, Reynhoudt says the campaign has always been well-received by the public. “It’s a nice feeling knowing the equipment and the care is there,” he said.
kristyn.anthony@vicnews.com
