KHCA $15,000 & EKFH $5,000 Starlite Gift Unite for ER Bi-Pap

Submitted by EKFH on 18-06-2014

Kimberley, BC… Maybe you found that amazing dress still with a tag on it, or those men’s sandals that your guy must have, or how about that kitchen gadget you know you don’t need but you buy it anyhow. Ever wonder what happens to that money after you purchased some of these things at one of the two Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary (KHCA) thrift stores?

We maybe can’t tell you all the great things the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary does but we can tell you that after a nearly decade of gifts donated to East Kootenay Foundation for Health from KHCA those hard-earned dollars have helped to fund patient comforts and purchase essential pieces of medical equipment for the Kimberley Special Care Home and the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.

This week members of the KHCA presented a cheque of $15,000 to EKFH dedicated to the purchase of a Bi-Pap machine for the East Kootenay Regional Hospital emergency department. EKFH is also allocating $5,000 from its 2013 Starlite Campaign to the same purpose resulting in an overall gift of $20,000.

A BiPap (Bi-Level Positive Air Pressure) machine is a small device that assists with a patient’s breathing. It is connected by flexible tubing to a face mask worn by a patient. The BiPap machine helps push air and oxygen into the lungs and then helps to hold the lungs inflated, allowing more oxygen to enter the lungs. A BiPap may be used to support breathing for a number of patient conditions including cardiac failure, respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pneumonia.

Thanks to the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Shop shoppers and donors who helped light stars atop the regional hospital for making it possible for the KHCA and EKFH to purchase the BiPap.

Whether it’s emergency care, children, or a community wellness program making an unrestricted gift to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health puts health care funding to work in your community or for the region. To learn more about the work of the foundation or to make a donation visit www.ekfh.ca.

To learn more about the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary or to become a volunteer drop into one of their two locations at 140 Howard St, Kimberley or 617C 304th St, Marysville.

L-R: Judy Hathaway, Heather MacKenzie, Jessie Marchi, Mary Davies, Jean Minifie, Marlyn Marshall, Donna Grainger (EKFH)