The chill did not stop the runners as the annual Have A Heart Walk or Run for the Humboldt and District Hospital Foundation on Oct. 2 was another success, says Executive Director, Lorrie Bunko.
Forty-nine runners ran or walked the Humboldt Golf Club with the front nine trail totaling 5 kilometres. Ten kilometre runners took on the course twice.
Christine Roberts walked with her two daughters but also took the opportunity to dress up in full clown costume with funny wig and makeup.
Roberts has been doing a couple of fun runs a year with her kids, the first being a previous spring Have a Heart Walk or Run through Water Ridge Park.
“There’s so much sadness in the world so why not, if you can, get out of that little box and just have some fun with it.”
Roberts’ kids are only going to be little for so long, so she is proud to show them the humour in life.
This was also the 30th anniversary of the Humboldt and District Hospital Foundation that was started in 1986 as the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Foundation.
The last 30 years have seen $5 million raised, says Bunko, and has made a huge impact on the community.
“For an organization to make it to 30 years and still be strong, there has been a lot of change and the price for equipment has really increased too. When you look back and look through all the minutes and pictures and where we came from, wow.”
A lot of time and sweat has been invested into the organization, says Bunko, and she cannot thank people enough for bringing the organization to their 30th anniversary.
This was the first year runners and walkers took on the Humboldt Golf Club trail and Bunko says it was the perfect fit for them since the high traffic streets and highways were always questionable for safety.
“We took it off the highway because of traffic and speed and if something ever happened it would be horrible. Then we brought it to just in Humboldt but that was difficult too because there was still a lot of traffic.”
Runners and walkers had the 9 holes to themselves, minus a few golfers who were also taking in the beautiful morning but participants were safe from heavy vehicle traffic. This made it great for everyone, including the many families who ran the course together, says Bunko.
Using the cart path has also eliminated the need for so many volunteers because the trail through the course was very easy to follow.
Money raised will go to a new electronic patient management system called Sunrise Clinical Managers that will be first put into the Humboldt District Hospital Emergency department and will be a $45,000 investment. Patient records can then be digitally shared with Saskatoon hospitals if a patient needs to be transferred starting in the beginning of 2017, says Bunko.
“Saskatoon will be able to pull up the patient’s information and everything will be there. So it’s going to cut down on time, running around trying to find the information, everything is going to be there.”
It has been out in the bigger centres but has not reached the rural health care facilities which Bunko says is the plan for the future of the Sunrise system. The main goal right now is the Emergency Department.
