ESTEVAN — The latest developments in the push to bring an MRI scanner to St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan include the start of construction to accommodate the building that will house the machine.
The work began in early May. St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation executive director Lori Gervais said it is pretty exciting, because people can physically see things are happening. Test holes have been drilled for the soil, the stakes are up and actual activity is occurring, she said.
"Soon enough we will see construction where they're starting to pour cement," Gervais said in an interview with 蘑菇视频短视频. "They'll be more physically able to see that there is more progress being made, and that's pretty exciting."
The building is a modular structure that will be constructed in Quebec, trucked to Estevan and set on a cement pad.
"All of the pre-work will be done this summer, before wintertime, because you have to do that when the ground is not frost," said Gervais. I don't know the exact details on when everything is going to be set in place, but it's starting this summer, so it will be ready for that modular unit to be installed in the fall or the spring, whenever all of that is ready, and then the MRI will be in there."
Gervais said the building is called a cassette. It's a specially-encased room that has to be wrapped in copper to handle all of the magnetic frequencies, and Gervais said it's very specialized.
She hopes the unit can be operational next April.
The start of construction is a big milestone, she said. People phone and ask questions about the project all of the time, and she believes some are holding off on participating and donating until they see it physically happening, even though the foundation was given the green light by the provincial government more than a year ago to fundraise.
"It's important for everybody," said Gervais. "This isn't a hard sell for anybody. Everybody agrees that having an MRI here would be great for everybody. It's just a matter of everybody doing what they can."
The foundation has received $5,413,689, as of the morning of May 15, leaving them at 84 per cent of their $6.5 million goal. Pledges continue to come in, she said. The total includes the $2 million donated by Elaine Walkom, in honour of her late husband Grant, that launched the campaign.
For the second straight year, the foundation's annual Radiothon for Life will benefit the MRI project. The fundraiser will run from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Golden West Broadcasting's three Estevan radio stations: CJ 1150, Sun 102.3 and Country 106. Last year's event raised more than $191,000 – the highest total ever for the fundraiser.
"We always have lots of people in the community that are supporting us in any way they can and running their own fundraisers," she said.
Whitecap Resources kicked off the radiothon campaign by donating $50,000. Gervais noted that while there isn't a fundraising goal for the radiothon, she always wants to top the $60,000 mark. With $50,000 already in place, she's confident the fundraiser will surpass that mark.
The $50,000 donation is included in the MRI fundraising total.
The radiothon will be inside the hospital once again this year. It was held outside for a few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned indoors last year due to strong winds that blew through Estevan that day.
It's also easier for walk-through traffic and staff members to participate in the event.
"We are on air just celebrating everybody's support and all of southeast Saskatchewan that steps up to help," said Gervais.
The Estevan Market Mall has donated two e-bikes that will be raffled off. Meanwhile, Golf the 蘑菇视频短视频east includes rounds at 12 different courses.
"Somebody could have quite a fantastic adventure, going around golfing and seeing how many great, great golf courses we have surrounding us," said Gervais.
Other efforts include Teen Burger Tuesday at A&W, with $1 from each Teen Burger sold going to the Radiothon. Suds Zone Car Wash had a vehicle wash-a-thon in April. The 蘑菇视频短视频ern Plains Co-op provides volunteers and support for the barbecue.
When the campaign started, the slogan was Together We Can – MRI for Estevan. Now it is Together We Will – MRI for Estevan, reflecting the support to bring MRI services to the southeast.
"It's not just really our slogan, it's a promise saying that with the incredible support of the community and southeast Saskatchewan, we will … bring an MRI to Estevan and we will do everything that we're promising – we will reduce the wait times and cut down travel and improve access to life-saving care right here at home, so we want to thank everybody for that, that they are standing with us and believing in it, and showing that together we will do this."
