Moose Jaw residents were excited for a chance to get out and visit with friends, tap their toes, and potentially help save lives at Concerts in the Park, put on by the Moose Jaw Health Foundation.
The latest concert, the third of four happening this season, featured local group the Fudder Band, who played familiar country tunes that got attendees up and dancing.
“The great thing about the bands is that they all volunteer their time,” said Kelly McElree, executive director for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation.“They love to play, and it’s always a great crowd for them.”
Concerts in the Park typically runs each year, throughout June, July and August, but was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this season has also been significantly shortened, McElree is delighted that COVID restrictions have lifted enough for the event to take place at all.
“It’s really good to see that people are tapping their foot along to the songs and singing along or they’re up and dancing,” McElree said. “People need that and we’re delighted to do that for this community, and our donors that support us so much.”
Donations raised from Concerts in the Park go toward the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment at the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw, with this year’s focus on the dialysis unit, which currently treats 35 Moose Jaw and area patients suffering from kidney failure.
In McElree’s experience, the general public tends to be less familiar with the effects of kidney failure than they are with more widely publicized ailments such as heart attacks or strokes. However, he stressed the importance of making sure local patients are able to undergo dialysis as close to home as possible, as it typically involves three four-hour treatments every week. Without a dialysis unit in Moose Jaw, area residents would have to travel to Regina or another centre to receive this life-sustaining treatment.
The first concert this year raised over $800, the second raised over $1,000 and the funds for the most recent show are still being tallied. Donations will be presented at the 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon September 9 and 10 at the Town 'n' Country Mall.
The final show of the Concerts in the Park series takes place August 25 at the Moose Jaw Amphitheatre, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
