From left, Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) Past Chair Jim Barbour, Light the Way Co-chair Ann Mackay, SMHF Chair Mary Jo Arnett, SMHF Executive Director Tracy Murray, Light the Way Campaign Chair Judy Rich, Light the Way Campaign Co-chair Alison Fernandes.

Hub Staff

The Light the Way Radiothon once again brightened hearts in Saugeen Shores with an outpouring of generosity to support the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMFH). The 12-hour event held December 12 received hundreds of donations which sent the team soaring past their $80,000 goal.

Local radio station 98 the Beach in Port Elgin hosted the event with live updates, interviews, auctions, draws and plenty of witty commentary by hosts John Divinski, Robin Woods, Brian Longmire, Mike Brough, and Megan Johnson. The station was a flurry of activity from volunteers answering calls to community members and business people coming in to drop off their donation.

The radiation also spurred some friendly competition between members of community with donors challenging friends, co-workers and teammates to match or surpass their donations. Owen Sound resident, Owen, who is 11 years old, plays minor hockey in Arran-Elderslie and went on air giving $20 and asked all minor hockey players to come in and donate.

Gerard Buckley, a Port Elgin mortgage agent from Mortgage Wellness, committed to match every donation from Real Estate agents up to $2,000 and all year long and will donate $200 for every mortgage referral.

There was also a power hour from 3pm to 4pm during which time all donors were entered into draws for gift certificates and a hockey jersey. A lottery was drawn for a Maytag washer and dryer from Square Deal Neil’s, a seven day Royal Caribbean cruise donated by Destinations Unlimited, a $1,000 gift card from Mowbray’s Canadian Tire and a $10,000 cash prize. Maple Leaf tickets donated by the Dunlop family were auctioned off with a winning bid of $250.

Jim Barbour, Past Chair of SMHF, made mention of how many citizens were walking in to give their gift to the Foundation and share a story about how their lives have been affected by the hospital. “People donate to the Radiothon because they’ve been helped by the hospital and they know how vital it is to our community,” commented Barbour.

By 6pm the tally had reached over $88,000, but 98 the Beach's John Divinski’s pledge to donate $5 for every $1,000, increased the total raised.

In a December 13 media release from Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, the final tally was a record breaking $90,294.

SMHF Executive Director Tracy Murray was filled with gratitude. “Thank you to everyone, every business, every person, every kid,” enthused Murray. “It’s my favourite day of the year” she confessed.

Volunteers, from left, Beth Brock, Terina Wnuk, and Shannon Van Valkenburg were taking calls and accepting donations from 6am to 6pm for the Light the Way Radiothon at 98 the Beach in Port Elgin December 12.

The thermometer was nearly half way to SMHF's $80,000 goal by 11am and surpassed the target by the end of the day for the fourth annual Light the Way Radiothon hosted by 98 the Beach.