The Lloydminster Region Health Foundation is pushing back the 20th edition of their largest fundraising event of the year.
The Health Foundation Gala will be held on October 29th, 2021 after committee members reviewed all options and found postponement to be the best option. The committee discussed a smaller event for this year, but the potential public health risk was too great. Committee Chair Misty Kay says the year has been unpredictable with the pandemic changing the lives of many.
“We have all faced many challenges and found new ways to go forward with our day to day lives. In order to best keep everyone safe and healthy, the Health Foundation Gala committee feels it is in the best interest of everyone involved in our community to postpone the 20th Anniversary Health Foundation Gala, until next fall.”
The LRHF will continue fundraising this year with their “Lloydminster Christmas Gift to the Hospital” radiothon later this fall. CEO Malcolm Radke says they will be able to share the stories of staff and supporters through different forms of media while also following public health guidelines.
“We were looking forward to having everyone out in the fall for the gala and telling all these stories of leadership from a lot of the frontline healthcare workers in the community. Also, the supporters of the hospital and the foundation that came from all corners of the community to step up in the face of COVID-19. Now we’ll have to tell that story virtually and using new media.”
Last year, the 12-hour radiothon raised over $50,000 for a new electronic pill dispenser for the hospital. This year, it will help fund projects associated with the hospital’s emergency preparedness for the hospital as well as mental health initiatives.
“It’s top of mind as we leave the initial panic of COVID-19 and look at the long term impact and how we can sure up those weaknesses in the healthcare system that we’re maybe exposed in through COVID-19. There’s a lot of equipment in that hospital that’s starting to show its age.”
The Health Foundation Gala was first held in 2000 and has raised more than $3,000,000 for several different initiatives and projects throughout the years.
