Nicholas Donaldson
The Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s annual “Canada Day Cash Lottery” draw is set for at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Riverside has the goal of selling out to mark the special celebration of its 20-year anniversary.
With only 2,500 tickets printed, it is close to its goal with nearly 2,000 sold.
The draw prizes also are tied to the celebration with 20 ways to win.
The early-bird winner was drawn at Flint House on May 18, with Dede McCool winning a fishing trip for two courtesy of the Manitou Weather Station Fishing Lodge (valued at more than $2,200).
That means there still are 19 draws to go, with a total value of $18,000.
That includes the grand prize of $10,000, one draw for $2,000, two draws of $1,000, five draws of $500, five draws of $250, and five draws of $100.
Tickets cost $20 each, three for $50, or seven for $100.
They can be purchased at the Fort Frances Times office, From the Grind Up, Green’s, McTaggarts, Taggs, Tompkins Hardware in Emo, La Verendrye Hospital, Rainycrest Long-Term Care, and the Emo and Rainy River Health Centres.
The Foundation also will have a booth set up on Scott Street for “Mall Day” tomorrow (June 29), complete with a barbecue, so people can purchase food and tickets together.
This year’s goal is to raise enough funds for a new and innovative ultrasound examination bed for La Verendrye Hospital here.
In the Foundation’s annual report for 2017, chair Kim Jo Bliss reported last year’s “Canada Day Cash Lottery” raised more than $16,000 in profit with substantial support from the community.
Funds went towards purchasing high-low beds, mattresses, and a portable suction machine for Rainycrest.
In her report, Bliss also thanked everyone who supported last year’s draw and congratulated the grand prize winner, Iris Shute.
In the past fiscal year, the Foundation has transferred more than $437,000 to Riverside Health Care for capital equipment and renovations.
Purchases included vital sign machines, triple channel pumps, a bladder scanner, a cardiac monitoring system, a blood coagulation analyzer, staff training/education, and more.
“Supporting health care in the community is important because it will affect everybody at some point in their life,” said Bliss.
“And the money raised by the Foundation stays in the district to keep the community healthy,” she stressed.
“Buying a ticket and helping make our 20-year anniversary special is a great way to contribute.”
