Hub Staff

It was a happy new year for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation's Light the Way campaign on December 31 as staff from Shoppers Drug Mart in Port Elgin presented a cheque for $3,445 to Hospital Foundation Executive Director, Sally Kidson.

The money was raised through Shoppers Drug Mart's annual 'Grow Women’s Health' national campaign, formerly known as 'Tree of Life', which ran September 12 through October 9. Since 2002 the campaign has raised over $29 million nationally with 100 percent of the proceeds going to benefit women’s health initiatives.

Money was also raised locally through a silent auction which was held in the summer and organized by Cosmetics Manager, Stacey Kienzle, with items donated by Shoppers Drug Mart as well as other local merchants. “All of the vendors in Port Elgin were generous and donated a lot,” said Kienzle.

Kidson said that locally the funds from the donation will go towards purchasing a BiPap machine, which is used to help treat women with lung disorders from asthma and sleep apnea to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

Kidson said the Foundation, including this donation, is now at $91,600 of their $130,000 goal for the Light the Way campaign.

The campaign continues through January and donations can be made at www.smhfoundation.ca