Lions clubs donate almost $65,000 to hospital dialysis unit

Lions clubs donate almost $65,000 to hospital dialysis unit

Date: 2008-09-25
By Mary Riley

Lions from the City of Kawartha Lakes' 16 clubs and members of Lions Clubs International toured the Ross Memorial Hospital's new dialysis unit on Monday (Sept. 22) as they celebrated their donation of $64,601.75 to the campaign.

Jim Johnstone, governor of the hospital and a member of the Oakwood Lions Club, was a driving force behind getting the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) to match the money local clubs raised.

"It took about a year and a half," he said. "We applied for the grant from Lions International and found out we were successful this spring."

Mr. Johnstone mobilized local clubs within the hospital's catchment area and also wrote the proposal to apply for the grant.

The local clubs held a variety of fundraisers for the 'On the Horizon' campaign for the dialysis unit. They managed to raise $31,386.96, which in turn, was matched by the LCIF grant.

Erin Crouch, program coordinator for the grant program, said the support from the City's Lions clubs was "amazing."

"It was very important to do this," she said of building the dialysis unit. "There are a lot of patients in this area who need dialysis, and their quality of life was being compromised. We were thrilled to be able to help."

http://www.mykawartha.com/news/article/33265