Riverside Health Care’s October 50-50 draw has surged above the $30,000 mark over the last few days, marking the largest 50-50 jackpot since the monthly draws began as part of the Lights, Camera, DIAGNOSIS! campaign.
The last chance to get tickets for the healthcare provider’s monthly draw is today before midnight.
Riverside’s director of fundraising, Holly Kaemingh, said she is pleased with how the draw’s popularity has increased.
“This is the largest jackpot we’ve seen since we launched the Riverside 50-50 last July, and it’s just so amazing to see it grow,” she said.
Kaemingh said she’s not exactly sure what has caused an uptick this month; many similar draws see increases going into the holidays as tickets are used as gifts, but she hopes the momentum continues.
“It’s building a lot of momentum right now, and I hope it just continues obviously, and continues throughout the holiday season and then beyond,” she said. “It’s just so nice to see so many people getting involved and sharing it, and I think that enthusiasm just builds, and then we get to this point.”
Riverside is currently working on a new fundraising initiative with the hope of bringing echocardiograms back to La Verendrye General Hospital.
The ECHO initiative is seeking to raise $200,000 to fund a specialized ultrasound unit which will be used for cardiac care with specific probes to be used for monitoring the heart, as well as a specialized bed and chair for the echocardiogram suite.
“There’s no construction needed for this project,” Kaemingh said. “So once the funds are raised, we can get the machine and get everything going.”
A technician is already being trained to be able to take the scans as well.
As of Thursday morning, the jackpot was at $34,270. Tickets are available at rhc5050.com available until 11:59 p.m. Thursday night, Oct. 29, 2026.
The Lights, Camera, DIAGNOSIS! campaign hit its $1.67-million goal to bring the first-ever MRI machine to the Rainy River District in July.
Planning and construction are underway at La Verendrye General Hospital to create the space that will house the district’s first MRI, bringing advanced diagnostic imaging closer to home for patients throughout the region, with the first MRI anticipated in spring 2027.
