FORT FRANCES — Fundraising efforts are now underway to raise $1.6 million towards bettering diagnostic imaging services in the Rainy River district, including for a new MRI scanner.
The Lights, Camera, Diagnosis campaign will now include a monthly online 50/50 draw. Fundraising officials are hoping to build on the success of other similar efforts in the region, said Holly Kaemingh, the director of fundraising at Riverside Health Care.
The organization operates a number of healthcare facilities in Fort Frances, Rainy River and Emo.
“We've seen a lot of success, regionally, with 50'/50 draws, and it seems to be a popular choice in Northwestern Ontario for healthcare fundraising,” she said. “There's a lot of excitement in our community ... leading up to this about when people would be able to buy tickets.”
“We’ve seen how successful it can be.”
The goal is to raise enough money for an MRI scanner at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances; it would be the first one available in that part of the Northwest.
Kenora and Sioux Lookout are also slated to get them soon.
The money will also go toward bringing new digital radiography units to La Verendrye and to the Rainy River Health Centre.
“There's just so much travel that takes place in the district, and we're really excited to be able to offer these services here in the Rainy River District,” Kaemingh said.
“The Rainy River Health Centre has never had a brand-new x-ray machine, and their current machine is very dated,” she added. “So, this is really, really exciting for the west end of our district, too.”
The draw’s dedicated website has four different package options. Kaemingh said the monthly draws will take place on the last Friday of every month, with the first scheduled for July 25.
Tickets can also be purchased in-person at La Verendrye Hospital, she said.
Improving access to healthcare in specific parts of the region continues to be important, Kaemingh said.
“Currently, patients are travelling to Thunder Bay whenever they require an MRI and for our patients in the west end of the district, that's a very long drive,” she said.
Fort Frances is about 350 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.
Fundraising is crucial to upgrading and modernizing equipment, Kaemingh said.
“We know the government funds the day-to-day operations of the hospital (and) all of the equipment and upgrades are on fundraising,” she said. “So, in order to improve our equipment and keep it up-to-date and have the best patient experience, we need to fundraise.”
