The Health Foundation Airwaves for Health Radiothon, hosted by GX94 and the Fox, had another successful year in 2013, raising an early total of $78,925.
Ross Fisher, Executive Director of the Health Foundation, says that the success of this year's event shows that the community is ready and willing to start raising money for a new hospital. This year's event was the launch of the fundraising campaign for the new hospital.
The biggest change over previous years was a change in venue, as the event was hosted by the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. Angie Norton, General Manager of Harvard Broadcasting in Yorkton, says that the change in venue meant that the on-air staff were better able to connect with the health professionals who know best how a new hospital will benefit both staff and patients. As a result, the shift in venue is planned to be a permanent change for the Radiothon.
"We got a lot more doctors, nurses and other radio staff involved who hadn't really had the opportunity to be a part of this before," Norton says.
The event is a major fundraiser for The Health Foundation, and Norton says that it's something the station enjoys doing every year. She says the on-air staff enjoys getting out of the studio and into the community, and the station as a whole likes helping raise the funds for various causes.
"I think for the on-air staff, being in the location and seeing the activities of the hospital on a day to day basis, gave them a better understanding so they could communicate with the listeners the desperate need for a new hospital."
The support of the business community was another highlight for the event. Fisher says that 47 businesses contributed $1,000 or more to the Radiothon. As well, many businesses set up promotional events, where sales of certain items would contribute to their total donation. He notes that, for example, the Yorkton Co-op donated based on gas sales over three days, and that promotion raised over $7,000. Fisher says that the business saw a significant bump in sales over the days, and he hopes to grow those kinds of promotions next year.
Fisher also expects that the number will climb when the final numbers for new initiatives like the donation boxes.
