MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2011
30-Hour Telethon Presents BGH with $173,000 for Palliative Care Service
Brockville: Local palliative care recently received $173,000 from its biggest supporter—the Annual 30-Hour Telethon for Palliative Care Services.
Bruce Wylie, Chair of annual event, is proud to present the cheque on behalf of the Telethon Committee and all its volunteers.
“We have two things that work well to make this possible. We have a committee and volunteers that make a great team. We also have
a generous and supportive community,” says Wylie, who has been Chair of the successful annual fundraiser for Brockville and
District Palliative Care Services since 2004. “There is nobody in the community that hasn’t been touched by loss and affected by
palliative care. People also know the money raised here stays here. We see this and hear this through the telethon over and over.
It’s important to them.”
It’s been important for 28 years. The first Annual Telethon for Palliative Care was held in 1984. “We raised $29,369.00,” says
Carol Davis, who has been Treasurer of the Telethon from the outset. “To date, through the Telethon we’ve donated just under $2.5
million directly to palliative care,” she explains.
The funds raised go to the Brockville and District Hospice Palliative Care Service, a community service developed over 30 years ago
at the former St. Vincent de Paul Hospital. Now part of Brockville General Hospital, the service has grown through the years from
a single nurse to five consult nurses and over 100 trained volunteers who offer support at any point from diagnosis to
bereavement—and beyond, for family members coping with loss.
“The nurse consult services are almost totally funded through generous donations, like this,” explains Ray Marshall, President and CEO of Brockville General Hospital (BGH). “Without the support of the telethon, the service would be significantly cut and perhaps not possible at all.”
“The funds raised by the annual Telethon represent a phenomenal donation,” says Tom Blanchard, Vice Chair of the Brockville and
District Hospital Foundation. “With an annual operating budget of just over $525,000, the palliative care service relies on the
telethon for one-third of its community support.”
With the 30th anniversary approaching, Wylie says the event has stood the test of time because the committee keeps putting in new
things. “We work hard to keep it fresh for the people of Leeds and Grenville.”
It’s also about keeping a dream alive, says Wylie.
“Bob Crowder had an incredible dream years ago about hosting a telethon to support palliative care,” he explains, “and we’ve been
keeping his dream alive for 29 years.”
The 29th Annual 30-Hour Telethon for Palliative Care Services will be held January 28th and 29th, 2012.
Tremendous community support: Bruce Wylie (seated, right), 30-Hour Telethon Committee Chair, presents Tom Blanchard (seated, left),
Vice Chair Brockville and District Hospital Foundation Board, with a cheque for $173,000 in support of palliative care (PC)
services. Sharing the moment are (standing, l – r) BGH President and CEO Ray Marshall, PC Casual RN Elaine Watters, PC Unit Clerk
Deb Bennett, PC Coordinator of Volunteers Patricia Howlett, RPN (with PC) Mary Ann Libby, and Telethon Treasurer Carol Davis.
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