The Moose Jaw Health Foundation wants patients who receive kidney dialysis treatment at the hospital to do so in comfort, so this year’s radiothon will focus on dialysis-related equipment.
The 15th annual 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon takes place Thursday, Sept. 9 to Friday, Sept. 10, for 36 hours at the Town ‘n’ Country Mall. The foundation hopes to raise $125,000 and is looking for the support of residents in Moose Jaw and the surrounding area.
The radiothon has been an important part of the community during the last two decades and has “grown immensely,” said executive director Kelly McElree. Since 2006, the health foundation has raised $4.3 million through this fundraiser, which has created a “tremendous impact” and helped countless patients at the former Union Hospital and the current Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.
In consultation with medical employees at the hospital, the health foundation focuses on a different need each year, from heart health to cancer treatment.
This year the foundation focused on kidney disease since it is the 10th leading cause of death in Canada, he explained. One in 10 Canadians has kidney disease, while 50,000 Canadians are treated for kidney failure every day.
There are 35 kidney dialysis patients currently receiving treatment at the Wigmore regional hospital. Standard treatment includes three visits per week for four hours each time, for the duration of people’s lives.
Kidneys are organs that fulfill many tasks to keep people healthy, such as filtering waste from the blood and regulating fluids by eliminating excess water, so toxins don’t build up in the system and poison people.
The health-care professionals who work at Wigmore regional do incredible work every day to save lives, which residents recognize and respect, McElree continued. They also understand how much of a difference new equipment makes in the lives of patients.
The equipment the foundation wants to purchase this year includes a transonic monitor, a Pryxis medstation, a ceiling lift, a bariatric dialysis chair and a Broda chair.
The Pryxis medstation is a sophisticated system that dispenses medication and can be customized for each patient. The transonic monitor measures blood flow through the dialysis machine and provides medical professionals with information to customize treatment.
Meanwhile, ceiling lifts raise patients from their wheelchairs into other chairs or beds and protect the safety of staff. A Broda chair better positions patients receiving treatment, while a bariatric chair is for obese patients.
Besides raising funds, the radiothon also highlights the work the hospital and its employees do — from the children’s ward to cancer treatment — and tells the stories of patients who have received support, said McElree.
“When you raise awareness like that in community, people in Moose Jaw are very generous, and we’re so thankful for that level of generosity because it saves lives,” he added. “We put that money to work right away to help people.”
The A.C.T./U.C.T. Council 1027 has already donated $8,000 to the fundraiser and plans to match donations up to that total.
The organization has supported the radiothon for many years and contributed to it in many ways, said McElree. The foundation is thankful for that support, along with the support of other community groups, organizations and businesses that have been a part of the event since 2006.
McElree encouraged people to tune into the 36-hour broadcast and donate in person, by mail, or through their workplaces.
