KGH launches annual campaign to purchase pediatric care equipment
Today marks the launch of the annual Kingston General Hospital (KGH) 2021 Teddy Bear Campaign, which aims to raise funds for purchasing patient care equipment for the pediatric program at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).
The Campaign takes a sweet and simple approach to the fundraising, allowing those who contribute to offer some cuddly warmth and love to those children spending time in hospital over the holiday season.
“We see how much children love to receive a fuzzy friend when we distribute the bears across pediatric units at the end of the campaign,” Heather Breck, KGH Auxiliary President, said in a statement. “And our sponsors love knowing that they’re making much-needed medical equipment available to children when they need it most.”
This year is the18th annual campaign, which will run until Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, with the aim of raising $25,000 through the sponsorship of 250 teddy bears at $100 per bear. Last year, the campaign raised just under $40,000, bringing its overall contribution over the past 17 years to almost $440,000, according to KHSC.
KHSC said this year, the campaign funds will purchase a MediTherm Hyper/Hypothermia System, “technology used to control body temperature in patients who are unable to stay warm in normal temperature ranges, have trouble controlling their own body temperature or need to be carefully warmed due to hypothermia.”
Representatives from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 and their Ladies Auxiliary, who are longtime Teddy Bear Campaign supporters, kicked off the 2021 campaign on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, with a combined donation of $3,000.
With COVID-19 restrictions again suspending in-person campaign events, donors have several contact-free options for making a donation, KHSC explained. Those options are:
- Calling the KGH Auxiliary office at 613-549-6666 extension 6352.
- Visiting www.kingstonhsc.ca to obtain a sponsorship instructions and order form.
- Donating through Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/kingston-general-hospital-auxiliary/. Choose “Teddy Bear Campaign” under “Apply your donation to a fund set up by this charity.”
Sponsors receive a charitable receipt upon request.
“At KHSC, we’re committed to ensuring our young patients and their families receive quality and family-centred care during their hospital stay,” said Dr. Bob Connelly, Head of Pediatrics at KHSC and Queen’s University. “With generous support from the community we’re able to achieve this goal.”