VJH Light a Bulb campaign; more than they hoped for

VERNON – A public plea and addition of a few extra days was enough to boost the Light a Bulb campaign for the VJH Foundation to not only meet, but surpass its goal of raising $250,000.

Director of development Sue Beaudry announced the organization hit $252,168, and that was more than enough to close the gap on the $14,279 shortfall the foundation was facing at the beginning of January. All funds raised are designated to the Tower of Care Campaign to equip and furnish the sixth and seventh floor of Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

“We remained optimistic and just kept working at it,” campaign co-chair Richard Finn says in a media release. “People in the North Okanagan know how to take care of each other. It really showed when we reached out for help and donations came in.”

Fellow co-chair Dr. Chris Cunningham says the fundraiser is very encouraging considering the more than 9,600 patients admitted to beds at Vernon Jubilee in 2013.

"We need more rooms, more beds and life-saving equipment," Dr. Cunningham says. "The support from Light a Bulb brings us closer to achieving our $2.5 million goal for Tower of Care."

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.