Radio Day Raises More than $678,000 for Healthcare in Cape Breton
The Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s 14th annual Radio Day took place at Centre 200 on October 7, raising $678,858 for health and cancer care in Cape Breton.
This total includes 100 percent of the funds needed to purchase a new echocardiogram machine for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, which was one of the main goals of the day.
“Radio Day is a tremendous day, which truly showcases the giving spirit of our community and beyond,” says Paula MacNeil, CEO of the Foundation. “From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of our Foundation and Board of Directors, thank you, Cape Breton, for the outpouring of support for healthcare on our Island.”
Partnering with Hot 101.9 and New Country 103.5, the 12-hour radiothon featured several stories from patients and their families, saw donations from more than 2300 community members and organizations, and had the support of more than 100 volunteers.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Hospital Foundation on this initiative, and for the generosity of our Cape Breton community,” says Raylene McGhee, Zone Director of Diagnostic Imaging and Cardiac Services for Nova Scotia Health’s Eastern Zone. “Two out of three of our current machines have reached the end of their lifecycles and are sometimes out of service due to needed repairs. These older machines also lack the ability to perform a vital test needed to plan appropriate treatment for cancer patients.”
The new echocardiogram will impact more than 5,000 cancer and cardiovascular patients at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital each year.
Since its inaugural launch in 2008, Radio Day has raised almost $9 million for healthcare in Cape Breton.