Editor:
Re: A chance to give back, Nov. 19.
Your article missed the main idea.
The point of my 75th birthday party was not merely to be a fundraiser for the Peace Arch Hospital emergency department, but was meant to be a challenge to as many people as possible.
Once you get to the age when you are more interested in downsizing, whenever you have any kind of celebration, instead of gifts or specifying “no gifts”, suggest that you would appreciate a donation for your local hospital. It may not be too long before you will need their services.
Every dollar helps, but imagine if a thousand other people had a birthday/anniversary the same month and also achieved a donation of $100; this would soon add up to a very significant amount.
Cheques to the hospital should be made out to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation re Birthday Fund, so that the hospital can keep track of the amounts per month. Perhaps Peace Arch News can print out the number of donations and amounts so that everyone can see what a difference their contribution is making.
Although the necessity for a much larger ER is presently a priority, every year the hospital has ongoing expenses of way over a million dollars to keep equipment up to date so they can give the best service to their patients and also attract the best of the medical profession. If doctors can’t depend on the equipment they need, they can’t do the best job.
Most people think this kind of money comes from the government. It definitely does not, which is why all hospitals are always having some kind of fundraising activities.
It can almost be guaranteed that, at some time, everyone will need the services of our hospital. So why don’t as many people as possible dedicate their birthday contribution to their hospital, and make a miracle happen.
Let’s make a goal to start this in January 2016. Health is the most important thing in anyone’s life. Without good health everything else quickly becomes meaningless.
Margaret (Maggie) Rodgers, Surrey
