Foundation News Releases > September 30th, 2011: Great-West Life and London Life donate $50,000 for Mammogrpahy Services in Kemptville
Kemptville District Hospital
2675 Concession Road, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Tel: (613) 258-6133; Fax: (613) 258-7853
Great-West Life and London Life donate $50,000 for Mammogrpahy Services in Kemptville
KEMPTVILLE, Ontario - The Mammography Campaign at the Kemptville District Hospital is $50,000 closer to its fundraising goal thanks to a donation from Great-West Life and London Life.
London Life Regional Director Brad Powe was on hand at the Foundation Golf Tournament to present a cheque to Kemptville District Hospital Foundation Board Chair Dermid O'Farrell, Foundation Executive Director Melissa Graham and Kemptville District Hospital CEO Colin Goodfellow.
The contribution, through the companies' national corporate citizenship program, will help Kemptville District Hospital provide free breast cancer screening through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) to more than 11,000 women in the hospital's catchment area. Currently just 65 per cent of the women in the area eligible for this free screening are taking advantage of the service. Kemptville District Hospital hopes that by providing mammography services, this figure will top 90 per cent by 2020.
There is a clear need for mammography services in Kemptville. The breast cancer rates for the area including Lanark, Leeds, North Grenville and Ottawa West regions are higher than for Ontario women overall. Mortality rates from breast cancer are also higher than in other areas of the region. With the nearest accredited OBSP site almost 45 minutes away, many women in this rural area with an aging population and almost no public transportation just aren't being screened – leading to delayed breast cancer diagnosis and an increased mortality rate.
"I am honoured that Great-West Life and London Life are supporting the Mammography Campaign and life-saving breast cancer screening," said Dermid O'Farrell, Chair of the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation. "This donation will have a direct and measurable impact on the lives of many women and families in our growing community."
About The Kemptville District Hospital Foundation
The KDH Foundation raises funds on behalf of the Kemptville District Hospital by undertaking community fundraising initiatives to provide support for new medical equipment and to provide the ongoing financial support required to maintain quality health care programs and services to our community.
The Mammography Campaign, launched in 2010, has a goal of raising the $750,000 needed to purchase mammography equipment and offer screening services at the Kemptville District Hospital. For more information visit www.kdh.on.ca/foundation_e.html on the Internet.
About Great-West Life and London Life
Together, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life serve the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada.
The companies donate at least one per cent of average pre-tax profits to non-profit, charitable and community organizations each year.
For more information please contact:
Melissa Graham
Executive Director
Kemptville District Hospital Foundation
613-258-6133 ext. 194
mjgraham@kdh.on.ca
Marlene Klassen
Great-West Life, Media and Public Relations
204-946-7705