The Radiology Unit at G.R. Baker Hospital will receive a $13,000 boost following the “Support Your Girls” fundraiser organized by Integris Credit Union in Quesnel.
“The Support Your Girls fundraiser idea began in a staff meeting while we were brainstorming ideas to increase our community involvement,” Laurie Johansson, insurance representative at Integris in Quesnel said.
“We’re still actively involved in Relay for Life and the Women’s Fall Challenge but we wanted to do something new in 2011.
“In a matter of minutes, the idea had spread from insurance to the credit union and onto financial planning and suddenly the whole Integris building was buzzing with the Support Your Girls idea.
“It didn’t take long for word to spread to people out in our community and we never could have imagined their generosity. Auction items and donations filled our boardroom.”
The sold-out event was held April 2 at the Cariboo Hotel.
“It was tons of fun and as a fundraiser, exceeded our goal of $5,000 considerably,” Sandi Walker of Integris Insurance and co-chair of the fundraiser, said.
“Breast cancer affects us all in some way.”
Quesnel Integris Credit Union manager Sheri Coles spoke glowingly of her staff’s fundraising efforts.
“We have a complement of employees that have shown they can take an idea and not only run with it, but make it into a very successful event,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of each and every one of them and hope we can match this event if we attempt it again next year as the bar has been set very high.
“I’m personally very pleased they chose the mammography unit as the beneficiary of the funds as this is a project that would benefit about half of our population at some point in their lives.
“It was great to partner with organizations like the Cariboo Hotel, the Cariboo Observer, Claytons Funeral Home and the Essentials Boutique to raise funds to improve the equipment at the digital mammography unit.”
Hospital administrator Margaret Sadlon was thrilled with the donation.
“We are so grateful to Integris for their generous donation toward a digital mammography machine for GR Baker Memorial Hospital,” Sadlon said.
“A digital mammography machine allows for early detection of cancer where a conventional film machine may not have picked it up.
“We offer the screening mammography program year round to residents of Quesnel and the addition of this machine will help us better serve our patients and our community. Call 1-800-663-9203, to book your screening mammogram today.”
