Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) and 98 The Beach are once again set to 'light the way' with the fourth annual Radiothon. For 12 hours December 12, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., stories, interviews, and holiday music will be heard over the airwaves in Saugeen Shores.
In an SMHF media release, this year’s Light the Way Champion is a young girl by the name of Sammy, whose family wanted to share their health care journey to not only help raise money for the Southampton hospital, but also to thank the people of Saugeen Shores for all of their love and support during this hard time. Sammy was brought to the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Emergency Department with flu like symptoms but a CT and lab tests confirmed she had a tremendous infection in her body and abscesses had developed on her brain.
Over the three months that followed, multiple life saving surgeries were required for Sammy, which left her needing a bilateral craniotomy (removing most of her skull). Last fall Sammy had a bilateral cranioplasty, which put her skull back together. Sammy’s family is extremely grateful for the care they received in the emergency department at our local hospital and the support of people in the community. “During this emotional rollercoaster of a time for our family, the community of Saugeen Shores has offered their support and love to us in every way imaginable. We aren’t sure how we could have survived it without you," said Sammy's mom, Kelly O’Brien.
Tracy Murray, Executive Director for the Foundation, said the Light the Way campaign is their biggest fundraiser each year. "The donations we receive from the Light the Way Letter and the Radioton play a major role in purchasing the equipment and resources needed each year so that we can provide the care our community needs when they need it the most," Murray said.
The goal of the fourth annual Radiothon is to raise $80,000 over the course of the 12 hour event. Last year's goal of $60,000 was surpassed by Saugeen Shores residents and businesses and the hope is that their generosity will break records again this year. There will be prizes given away throughout the day as well as Toronto Maple Leafs tickets that will be auctioned off. The tickets are courtesy of the Dunlop family.
In addition to 98 the Beach continuing to host the annual fundraiser, the event would not be possible without the support of Bruce Telecom for donating and setting up the phone lines so that volunteers can take donation calls all day long.
