The Collingwood G & M Hospital Foundation’s (www.cgmhf.com) annual Tree of Life Campaign was extremely successful this year, thanks to the generosity of community donors. Over $440,000 was raised, exceeding the fundraising goal by $65,000. Donations go towards the purchase of a much needed new fluoroscopy/x-ray unit for the Hospital.

Jory Pritchard-Kerr, Executive Director of the G&M Hospital Foundation said, “We are so pleased that our community responded to this very important need especially during this difficult economic time. We have now raised more than half of the $750,000 required to pay for the new fluoroscopy unit.”

The Hospital’s fluoroscopy unit broke down beyond repair in September leaving G&M patients travelling to other hospitals for this important diagnostic service.

Hilary Evans-Redpath, Manager of the G&M’s Diagnostic Imaging Department says, “Our new machine will be ordered shortly and we expect it to arrive early in the year. Potential suppliers have been very helpful in lending us a portable x-ray unit to use until the new unit arrives.”

Dr. Clare O’Brien, Radiologist with the G&M explains, “Fluoroscopy units give us dynamic (moving) images, which means we can see ‘real time’ pictures of the digestive tract, including the esophagus.”

With a higher than average seniors population in the G&M’s service area, illnesses such as colon cancer, swallowing and digestive problems affect the community more than most. Fluoroscopy is needed to make diagnoses in many of these instances.

No government funding is available to purchase the new fluoroscopy/x-ray unit so the Foundation will continue to accept donations for the unit until the total $750,000 cost can be covered.

Donations can be made through the Foundation website www.cgmhf.com, by mail to 459 Hume Street, Collingwood, ON L9Y 1W9, by telephone at 705-444-8645 or in person to the Foundation office, located in the lobby of the Hospital.