The East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH) has reached its fundraising goal for their A Warm Embrace Campaign thanks to another massive donation from the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary (KHCA). This means the EKFH can move forward with their project of bringing a Tier 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook.
KHCA donated $150,000 to the campaign in October. Combined with last fall's donation, the 100 per per cent volunteer-run organization has contributed a total of $290,000 to the $1.6 million target of the Warm Embrace Campaign.
“The members of Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary are thrilled to top-off the Warm Embrace Campaign with a donation of 150,000 this year," said KHCA president Pegg Davidson. "Our volunteers so often express the joy they receive in being a part of giving to health-care projects in Kimberley and the wider East Kootenay region.”
The organization has raised over $1 million to support improvements to health care in the East Kootenay through their thrift shops in Marysville and Kimberley. They have a team of around 140 members, who run the thrift stores and the Loan Cupboard, which provides medical equipment.
The addition of a Tier 3 NICU will be absolutely transformative in the lives of this region's smallest patients, and their patients, who often need to travel to Kelowna or Vancouver to receive the specialized and vital care they need.
EKFH executive director Brenna Baker said A Warm Embrace meeting its funding target would not have been possible without the tireless work of the KHCA and all those who have donated to the campaign.
“I am so thankful that we have this amazing partnership with the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary," Baker said. "They have a wonderful team who work extremely hard, and this enables us to do our job at bringing advanced health care to the East Kootenay. I love this organization so much!”
She added that while the campaign has reached its goal, the EKFH's commitment to improving health care around the region never ends.
Donations to A Warm Embrace will continue to be accepted throughout the rest of 2024, with all funds raised beyond the target going towards improving pediatric and neonatal care at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
The KHCA is always looking for new members to join their team. To learn more, you can contact them at 250-427-4043. To learn more about EKFH and A Warm Embrace Campaign here: ekfh.ca/campaigns/a-warm-embrace
