Saugeen Shores has gone over the top in its support of its local Saugeen Memorial Hospital.
For 12 hours, 98theBeach radio held the third annual ‘radiothon’ fundraiser on December 13th (2018). From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., residents, businesses and organizations called in their donations received by the many volunteers throughout the day or dropped by the station on Goderich Street to personally deliver their contribution.
For well-known radio personality, John Divinski (3rd from L standing in photo), it was bittersweet. This was, according to him, his last radiothon as host and it broke previous radiothon fundraising records coming in at approximately $75,000, although a final number is still be tallied. “I simply cannot believe it! This is absolutely incredible. What an unbelievable community!”
The monies raised for the ‘Light the Way Campaign’ go toward equipment for the hospital and as part of the hospital’s contribution for a new MRI machine for the regional Owen Sound Health Centre.
With donations that ranged from $25 to several thousand, the community demonstrated how it values its hospital and keeping health care ‘close to home’.
New Executive Director of Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, Tracy Murray, also expressed her amazement at the community’s generosity as did Jim Barbour, Chair of the Foundation Board.
Throughout the day, several restaurants brought in food and drink for the volunteers and radio station staff and anyone who stopped by the station. Tim Hortons provided coffee, doughnuts and muffins to start the day, Lord Elgin Fish & Chips brought in their specialty for everyone, the Queen’s Bar & Grill provided a huge specialty salad for all and Pizza Delight brought in pizzas.