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June 24th, 2008: Staff Raise $16,800 at Fifth Annual Golf Classic
Kemptville District Hospital
2675 Concession Road, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Tel: (613) 258-6133; Fax: (613) 258-7853
June 24, 2008
For Immediate Release – June 24, 2008
Kemptville, ON, June 24, 2008 - In a rare show of support, clouds parted over the rolling hills of Nationview Golf Course Saturday for the Kemptville District Hospital Golf Classic. A volunteer committee of staff organized this fifth annual event and raised $16,800 to purchase equipment, including a new and advanced blood pressure machine.
RPN Carol Willan said "right now our machine has two cuff sizes - medium and large - but our patients don't always come in medium and large!" The new blood pressure machine costs about $4,300, not unusual for healthcare technology. It will have different settings, to fit patients ranging from small children to large adults. Patients will be more comfortable, and staff will get better readings as a result. It will be a lot more reliable, too. "These machines are really just high-end computers, moved up and down the ward all day. That takes a toll," said Willan. The machine doesn't just display information for one patient; it also keeps a memory of previous ones, saving nurses time and adding an extra check to the system. That's important in a busy hospital setting.
Proceeds from last year's tournament were used to buy a bariatric mattress which helps reduce bed sores for bed-ridden patients.
In all, 88 golfers showed up in support of KDH and to enjoy a sunny day of golf. Amazingly one golfer, Steve Farrell, scored a hole-in-one at the fourth hole. Sheila Durant of Nationview Golf
Course congratulated him with a special hole-in-one trophy to be displayed at the club-house.
The Silent auction and live auction were big hits, raising $4,123 in a very short period of time, thanks to volunteer auctioneer, Harry Pratt. It was just one of a series of charity golf tournaments Harry would help out this week, with his very own speaker system and auctioneer's charm.
Alex Heath, Director of the KDH Foundation, had nothing but praise for the organizing committee members Eileen Goddard, Trudy Arnaud, Carol Willan and Helen Rough. "These are front-line hospital workers, and their jobs aren't easy. The work is long, hard and demanding and yet here they are, organizing a super fundraiser for the fifth year straight. That kind of support is pretty rare these days." Others volunteers (some willing some not!) helped with registration, auction and mini-fundraisers at certain holes. For example, $278 was raised at the Marshmallow Drive, where participants paid to hit marshmallows as far as possible across the fairway.
What's behind this staff spirit? Ward clerk Helen Rough says "I don't have a lot, so this is my way of giving back. It's what I've always done. I came here thirty-seven years ago, back in 1971, and raised my family working here. This hospital is my lifeline." Willan added by saying "we're a small hospital with a big heart; you can tell by the support we received from volunteers, staff and businesses who sponsored us with prizes. And hey, I like the place!"
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Included in this Media Release are three photographs:
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 Harry Pratt, Auctioneer |
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For more information, please contact:
Alex Heath
Director, Kemptville District Hospital Foundation/ Manager, Hospital Communications
Tel: 613-258-6133 x 194
aheath@kdh.on.ca