Shining a Light on Healthcare is the theme of this year’s Light the Way campaign, Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation’s annual needs fundraiser that kicked off November 12 at the Saugeen Memorial Hospital.
Hub Staff
With a song in their hearts and flashlights in their hands, members of the community joined forces to shine a light on local healthcare and help kickoff the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation’s (SMHF) Light the Way campaign and tree lighting November 12 at the Southampton Hospital.
With new lyrics to the classic song “This Little Light of Mine” sung by local musician Cydney Morris and a chorus of singers, the carollers filled the entryway to the hospital and lit the hospital's Christmas Tree for the holiday season.
Light the Way is an annual needs campaign for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital and has seen a spike of interest over the last two years due in part to 98 The Beach's 12-hour Light the Way Day Radio-Thon which this year will take place December 13.
Morning show host Brian Longmire was one of the singers at the event and told the crowd that he calculated the total funds raised over the last two years to be just shy of $150,000. “They have been more of a success than they could have ever imagined,” he said and invited the community to call in or drop by the studio, enjoy some treats, and see the volunteers at work collecting donations.
Honorary Chair of this year's Light the Way campaign Judy Rich said it was a privilege to be chosen to be the Honorary Chair this year and told everyone in attendance to help spread the word of Light the Way and let everyone know they can either contribute or volunteer for Light the Way Day. "This is something that touches everyone's heart because we all use this facility and we all need it to stay and grow with our community," said Rich, adding "The only way we can do that is with campaigns like this.”
Through mail-in, in-person and radio-thon donations, the target for Light the Way is $150,000 which will go in support of upgrades to IT systems that ensure security for patient records, software for updated test results that can be shared with specialists, and background systems to ensure that everything from pharmacy to appointment bookings is updated for patient services.
The Foundation is also raising funds in support of a new MRI at the Owen Sound hospital as the current unit is the oldest MRI in Canada.
Judy Rich is Light the Way's Honorary Chair and will be seen at the Santa Claus Parades with her flashlight, shining a light on local healthcare.
Austin Wake, age 6; Lachlan Brown, age 3; and James Austin, age 3 were having fun with their flashlights at the Light the Way kick-off November 12.
The crowd, led by local musician Cydney Morris, sang a new rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” at the Light the Way kick-off November 12.
Members of the Chantry Singers led their voices, and their flashlights, to the November 12 kick-off campaign.
Morning show host Brian Longmire (left) reminded everyone of the upcoming radio-thon in support of the the Light the Way campaign. Foundation Director and Light the Way Co-Chair John Divinski (right) spoke ahead of the tree lighting.
Mayor-Elect, Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau, along with Mayor Mike Smith helped proclaim December 13 as Light the Way Day in Saugeen Shores.
