It was a year filled with challenges but when all is said and done, The Health Foundation is on course and ready for a new year of fundraising says Executive Director Ross Fisher.
"2010 was an interesting and a challenging year. Our donations are down somewhat, not as much as I thought they would be," but lower than the goal set out at the year's beginning.
"Back in the spring it kept raining and the ground kept getting wetter and farmers weren't able to get their crops in... and then we had the flood on July 1. I made the decision that we weren't going to be as aggressive," said Fisher in a recent interview with The News Review.
"People had a lot of other things they needed to spend their money on... our revenues are down as a result and it's taking a little longer to purchase what we set out to purchase.
"People continued to make their contributions, in fact more people made contributions this year than last, but the fact of life is, it was a harder year and so the donation average is down... People did what they can and that's really all you can ask..." says Fisher.
That said, there is a bright side. In spite of the lower dollar amount of contributions, the number of donors is increasing with each year and that means people are realizing the benefits and the importance of what the foundation is trying to accomplish.
In fact, in 2010 more than $326,000 was raised and spent on medical equipment in Yorkton and area. Another $300,000 will be spent in the next couple of months adds Fisher.
"We spent $50,000 on the maternity ward earlier... $80,000 finishing off the therapy program for the Heart and Stroke project we've been working on... and that's been going really well. We've had patients since January of last year. All of the equipment is in place. New therapists have been hired and close to 300 people are using it."
Over two year nearly $800,000 was raised and spent on equipment for the local program and as a result it's anticipated a full stroke clinic will open its doors in 2011.
Money raised is not just spent in Yorkton. It's meant to help surrounding communities out as well.
"We have a commitment to spend $100,000 outside of Yorkton and we did that again this year." Dollars have been spent on such items as bathing systems, medication pumps and hospital beds."
Because the smaller centres aren't regional, purchases aren't necessarily of the diagnostic nature says Fisher, but rather geared towards patient care and comfort.
"We're the only body that actually raises money for health care for the whole of the region. Our donors come from all of the region..."
Highlighting the successes of 2010, Fisher says there are several main areas that stand out.
"One is, we finished the stroke program which was very important to us." This comprised of two parts - the therapy side, and the stroke clinic which will deal more with the diagnostic side. Details on this side are currently being ironed out and residents can expect to hear more soon.
The stroke project was a joint pilot project with the provincial government. Yorkton was selected, says Fisher because it had the ability to raise the funds needed to get the project off the ground and running.
The annual golf tournament, as it has been in past years, was another success as was the Greek gala.
"It was the best gala we've had in years. The Road Race this year had more participants and raised more money than we ever have... all of our event went really well this year so we're really happy with that."
The annual Radiothon, the lottery event and the handing out of more than $18,000 in educational awards (in partnership with the TD Bank) to local health care workers are other areas in which The Health Foundation shone in 2010.
In spite of the successes Fisher says the foundation wasn't quite able to complete its goals for 2010.
"We didn't finish our campaign for operating equipment. We had hoped that we we'd be able to during the calender year but it just hasn't been possible.
We probably have to raise another $100,000 in order to buy all of the equipment we need to buy."
This campaign is an important one says Fisher as it will increase the number of surgeries that can be performed locally; it will reduce wait times; help maintain the growth of local services; help to recruit additional new specialists; and assist in retaining practitioners to this area.
Just six years ago says the executive director, 70 per cent of residents in this region requiring general surgery had to travel to Regina and/or other locations. Today, seven surgeons work out of Yorkton conducting 3,400 surgeries per year.
The fact the government sees Yorkton and area stepping up to the plate to improve local services is another added benefit suggests Fisher.
"As long as demonstrate that we'll participate in putting services in place I think we'll see continued support."
In 2011 people can expect to see more of the same from the foundation, as well as new initiatives.
"We're going to continue to do the same things we've done, because they work.
"We would like to, and we've been talking about, adding another event during the coming year... as long as we continue to have good things to raise funds for, equipment that will help us to bring new services to the region... and improve the care that's here, I think people will continue to support the work that we do."
To learn more about The Health Foundation and how you can get involved visit: www.thehealthfoundation.ca or call 786-0506.
