The list of equipment needs for the Humboldt and District Health Complex is long this year but the Humboldt and District Hospital Foundation is determined to get some items off the list during their annual Equip to Care Radiothon.
Yesterday’s spinathon at The Grind in Humboldt definitely helped get their fundraising totals up. Foundation executive director Lorrie Bunko told northeastNOW they had raised $47,000 through rider pledges and fundraising efforts alone by the time the last set of bikers dismounted and donations still coming in.
As of last night the foundation was sitting at a total of $63,000 raised.
While there are many items on the list, the spinathon was dedicated to obstetric needs, including fetal heart rate monitors and panda warmers in the obstetrics rooms, especially with the increased call for epidurals at the complex.
This also meant that riders, who ranged in age from 15 to mid-70s, got creative with their baby-themed costumes. Many of the riders were nurses and doctors from the Humboldt area so inspiration was close at hand.
“Did we see some amazing costumes like well thought out costumes, and we urge people to check out social media so they can actually see these costumes firsthand. The creativity and the work that went into this stuff. It was just priceless.”
Photos of the teams are available on the Spinning for Obstetrics: People’s Choice Best Dressed Spin Team Facebook group and voting for the best dressed will close at 5:30 p.m. today.
Bunko was quick to thank Ashley and Scott Brockman and Adrianna Wormworth of The Grind, as well as all the spin instructors, who donated their time and space to the event to help out the foundation.
One other equipment need that has been approved for the Humboldt hospital is a Cellavision system which will digitally share tests for quicker turnaround time for the results, said Bunko.
“Anything on these last slides needs to be sent away and read in Saskatoon or Regina. That’s the only places that they can be read in the province and that’s a two to four day turnaround before those results come back. With Cellavision, it is all digital and we’ll get results back within a couple hours.”
The hospital has $374,000 of annual equipment needs this year, with the Cellavision costing around $27,000.
The foundation is always taking donations for the many department needs throughout the Humboldt hospital. For the next month, the foundation office is still at 535 Main Street before they return back to their office at the Humboldt and District Health Complex, which they vacated during the pandemic.
The Humboldt hospital sees patients from 100 kilometre radius around Humboldt.
The radiothon was put on in partnership with Discover Humboldt and Bolt FM in Humboldt.
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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @bex_zim