A new charity run has been launched in the city to raise money for new equipment for the Lloydminster Hospital. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be hosting the “Run For Lloydminster” for the first time on September 22.
For the inaugural run, the Muslim community has partnered with the Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation to purchase an ophthalmology microscope with the funds raised. Imam Mansoor Azeem says the run started 16 years ago in different communities across Canada and is the first for the city.
“Our community has been raising money for different groups from smaller projects to the larger hospital projects and citywide projects as well.”
Over $2 million has been raised through the years with the run across Canada.
CEO of LRHF Malcolm Radke says the Muslim community reached out to them and asked if they could help the hospital in any way. He says the microscope has been a need in the community for quite some time.
“We don’t want seniors of any ethnicity leaving the community. This group has seniors just like any organization or group across town so they felt compelled to help,” says Radke.
“If you look at cataract surgery it’s one of those things you can get sent off to North Battleford, Edmonton or Saskatoon pretty quickly. From a health foundation perspective, we really want to keep as many services here as possible so people can stay in town.”
The new microscope will cost $160,318 and Radke says their goal is to raise the money by next spring. There are other groups in the city such as the Royal Canadian Legion helping with the fundraising as well.
“No matter who lives here, what age, what ethnicity, what gender you’re all using the hospital whether you’re having a child born there or you need some medical attention or you have a loved one in the hospital. The hospital affects everyone,” says Radke.
The run starts at 10 a.m at Bud Miller Park and people interest can register online.