The lights at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital will be brighter than ever this Friday, when the East Kootenay Foundation for Health lights up 17 stars to thank the community for a year of donations.
The EKFH decided that instead of its traditional annual Starlight campaign, they will simply light all of the stars above the hospital to celebrate an incredible year that saw $1 million raised for a digital stereotactic mammography machine. The lights will go on to coincide with Cranbrook's Light Up festivities on Friday evening.
"It is our small way of saying thanks," said Donna Grainger, executive director of the EKFH.
The foundation partners with the East Kootenay Community Credit Union each year to raise $5,000 per star to fund hospital equipment or health care programs. The program has raised $296,604 in the five years it has been running that has been put towards equipment in oncology, palliative care, emergency, intensive care, diagnostic imaging, surgical and much more.
"We are grateful to many in the East Kootenay for helping EKFH to sustain the worthwhile work that has helped our foundation to support the East Kootenay Regional Hospital and other health care facilities in meeting the needs of the region," Grainger said.
The lights will remain lit brightly above the hospital until January 31, 2013, but donations can still be made by visiting www.ekfh.ca, stopping by the East Kootenay Community Credit Union or at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.