THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation recently received a large donation from a local foundation.
The John Andrews Foundation presented TBRHSF with a $500,000 cheque to help add and replace radiation equipment at the Regional Cancer Centre.
In a release on Tuesday, the hospital said this equipment will be a huge asset in making sure patients can be treated quickly and in higher numbers.
“It was 12 years ago when the Cancer Centre was fully updated with new, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment through the Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign,” the release read.
Since then, the number of cancer patients has grown substantially, the release said. "So, too, must the cancer program.”
Over the past 28 years, the John Andrews Foundation has donated $1.85 million to the Health Sciences Foundation for multiple projects including the hospital building, which is 20 years old; Exceptional Cancer Care; and the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Surgery Campaign.
“We appreciate the incredible generosity of the John Andrews Foundation – we never take it for granted,” said Glenn Craig, president and CEO of the Health Sciences Foundation.
“We know there will be huge impacts for the many new and repeat cancer patients receiving exceptional care. They are giving more than just money – they're giving HOPE.”
Allan McKitrick, chair of the board for the John Andrews Foundation, knew Andrews personally and said it's a pleasure to help maintain exceptional cancer care locally.
“John would be very happy to be assisting to get this sophisticated equipment for cancer patients here and around the region, helping eliminate the stress of having to travel elsewhere for their treatment,” he said.
“The hospital was one of John's favourite targets for donations and he would be proud of what the Regional Cancer Centre is doing.”
To learn more about John Andrews and the foundation's contributions, visit johnandrewsfoundation.ca.
