Join Us In Celebrating the Tree of Hope

Each year the people of our community open their hearts and support the Tree of Hope Campaign in memory or in honor of their loved ones.  We share a ceremony, with singing, and inspirational message and the lighting of the Tree of Hope.  All fundraising from this go toward the Palliative Care unit.  Pick up an envelope at any of the reception desks or at the Foundation office.  Your ornament* will be placed on the tree commemorating your loved one.  Honorees will also receive a card to let them know of your gift in their behalf.  Their name and yours will be read at the Lighting of the Tree on Sunday, December 11th at 3pm.  Please join us for the singing and refreshments! (*the ornament shown is not exactly as used by us this year.  Come by and see what we have planned for 2016!)

Drumheller Health Centre receives Maternal Infant monitors

(Pictured: Amanda Jensen, licensed practical nurse, left, and Nancy Guntrip, Site Manager, display the maternal infant monitor in the labour and delivery unit at the Drumheller Health Centre.)

A maternal infant monitor on the labour and delivery unit at the Drumheller Health Centre is helping medical staff keep an eye on the health of moms and their babies during birth.  

The maternal infant monitor is a sensor belt placed around mom’s belly while she’s in labour.“The belt picks up the baby’s heart rate and the strength of the contractions,” says Nancy Guntrip, Site Manager of the Drumheller Health Centre. “It also has telemetry monitoring ability, meaning it’s wireless, so it allows mom to walk around during labour, while allowing us to continue viewing the readings onscreen – it’s nice to give mom this option, especially during a longer labour.”

The monitor costs nearly $30,000 and, thanks to fundraising and donations to the Drumheller Area Health Foundation, two new machines are on order, joining a pair already at the health centre.  The new monitors will be a welcome addition to the family at the health care facility.

“We have three labour and delivery rooms but only two monitors,” says Guntrip. “We’re certainly excited to be getting two more, so each room will now have its own monitor and we’ll have a fourth for backup.

”Measuring vital signs is beneficial for mom and baby so staff can better judge how both are doing.  

“It’s really nice for moms having the monitoring equipment because it lessens some of the stress and strain of birth by knowing their baby is doing fine,” explains Guntrip.

“It certainly helps our staff as well because we can see right away how both mom and baby are doing and take immediate action if difficulties become apparent."

The monitor is also beneficial because it can monitor two heartbeats at once – obviously valuable during multiple births.  

Boris Nahornick, Chair of the Drumheller Area Health Foundation, is happy the newest additions to the area are receiving such vital care.  “Our community is wonderful in getting behind different causes and puts in a lot of time and effort to help us bring worthwhile and meaningful health care to our community and patients,”says Nahornick.

(published in ZoneNews by Alberta Health Services) 

The Final Count is In for the Cuts for Cancer Campaign!

Pictured left to right are Dr. Boris Nahornick: Chair of the Drumheller Area Health Foundation, Walter Albrecht: who was integral in fundraising over $2477. Cathy Morse: Fundraiser extraordinaire and Ayrianna Jacques: who works with Cathy at the Chop Shop and also worked very hard on the fundraiser.

On Wednesday, March 20th, the final tally was complete for the 2013 Cuts for Cancer fundraiser.  This year’s fundraiser surpassed $27,026.11.  Total donations obtained over the years the Cuts for Cancer fundraiser is pushing up to the $140,000 level, with funds going to the Drumheller Health Care’s Community Cancer Clinic and the Palliative Care unit.    This fundraiser has enabled the purchase of a VersaCare bed with Air surface, a Hill Rom Bariatric Total Care Plus Air Bed, Palliative Care room renovations, Special Needs funding for patients in distress, special medication, comfort items for both the Cancer patients and Palliative care patients and much more.

The support of the community for this event and the Drumheller Health Centre is phenomenal.  Thank you Drumheller for all you do!

The Heart To Heart Society of Drumheller Gives Yet Again

Shown from left to right: Tom Diprose, Don Herman (both of Heart to Heart), Dr. Boris Nahornick (Chair of the Drumheller Area Health Foundation), Colleen MacDonald  (Cardiac Rehab), Janice Blumhagan (Acute Care) and Nancy Guntrip (Site Manager Drumheller Health Centre)

The Heart to Heart Society of Drumheller donated over $9,474 to purchase 3 portable blood pressure monitors for use in the Acute Care area of the Drumheller Health Centre.  Thank you so much for your generous donation!

Please support these wonderful people by attending their Annual Christmas Party, November 24th (Saturday) in the Rosedale Hall.  Cocktails will begin at 5:30pm, Supper will be at 6:30.  Entertainment will be provided by Bert Hoy.  

For tickets please contact Colleen MacDonald at the Cardiac Rehab department or any Heart to Heart member.  You may reach Colleen through 403.823-6500.

Canada Day Smokie Fundraiser with Drumheller Co-Op

Dr. Nahornick congratulating the management of the Drumheller Co-Op for another successful Canada Day Smokie event. This year the volunteers were able to raise over $1500 in the 3 hour fundraiser selling smokies on a bun, soft drinks and cupcakes. The Drumheller Co-Op provided all the food and the supplies for this event at no cost to the Foundation. All money raised will go toward maintenance and upkeep of the Recreational Therapy and Palliative Care gardens. Thank you one and all for helping to support the Gardens for yet another year.

Pictured left to right: Dave Kosolofski, Controller; G.C. (Gord) Van Kannel, General Manager; Dr. Nahornick, Chair of Drumheller Area Health Foundation; and Chris Irvine, Grocery Manager.

Thank you

The Drumheller Area Health Foundation would like to thank all those who made our 2011 ‘Art in the Badlands’ successful. We were able to earn over $10,000 for the Pediatrics Vital Signs Monitor for the Drumheller Medical Centre. Thank you Drumheller for all you do.

Particular thanks go to the contributors to our fundraiser.

99.5 Drum FM; Alberta Treasury Branch, Drumheller Branch; Athens Café & Greek Restaurant; Bits & Pieces Keepsake Quilting, Ms. Tara Semchuk, Owner; Mr. & Mrs. Alan Avramenko; Ms. Leila Bjerland & Mr. Dan Weibe of WB Studios; The Brick Drumheller, Janice Burke, Owner of Over the Rainbow; Caracol Clay Studios; The Calgary Flames Club; Calgary Stampeder Football Club; Mrs. Deanna Chambers; Drumheller Dragons Hockey Club; Mrs. Dianne Faulter; Carolyn Feir; CIBC Drumheller; Drumheller Co-op Ltd.; Drumheller Elks #54; Grant’s Oilfield Services, Inc.; Mrs. Nancy Guntrip; Gus’s Corner Restaurant, Inc.; H B Industries (Drumheller) Ltd.; Mr. Robert Haines; Highway 9 Express, Ltd.; IGA Drumheller; Mr. Jim Justinick; Mrs. Alice Klassen of JoAl Styles, Linden; Gary & Bev Krabsen; Sharen Krushel; Mark’s Work Wearhouse, Terry Kuhl, Store Operator; Mrs. Amy Kuschke; Martha Lynn of Touch of Class Quilting; Leanne Madsen, owner of the General Store at Deer Valley Implements Ltd.; Ms. Sherryl McBride of Marlin Travel; Mrs. Christeen Neffgen; Mrs. Rosalie Nimmo; Ms. Ellen Nobel; Mr. Mark Notland, owner of Sears Drumheller; Old Grouch’s; Q91 Country, Drumheller; RBC Royal Bank of Canada, Drumheller Branch; R&J Specialties, Inc.; Rosebud Theatre Group; Pioneer Trail Society; Dave & Lori Powel, owners of Sports Room Source for Sports; Mrs. Liselotte Rolf; Terry Ruth; Mr. John Ryning; Ms. E. Gerda Sallows; The Drumheller Mail, Mr. Ossie Sheddy, Publisher; SJ Fashions; Scapa Log Works; Mrs. Joan Snyder, Starland County Municipal Offices; Mrs. Carol Todor; Michael Todor; Barbara Travis, The Tyrrell Museum; Mr. Luigi Vescarelli of Canalta; Patrice Wolf, owner of the Inn and Spa at Heartwood; Mr. Trevor Woodford of Napa Auto Parts Drumheller, the Yavis Family of Yavis Family Restaurant, among others.

To our volunteers who stepped in and helped where needed, a heartfelt thanks to you all: Joan Snyder; Susan Schmidt of ATB; Cathy Morse of the Chop Shop; Monica Sleep; Yvonne Friedley; Lynn Zacharuk; Betty Montgomery; Maxine Popovich; Delphine Viczko; June Currie; Arlene Hunter; Sheila Richmond; Kathy Dudley; Corrie Fortner; Brian Ames and our fine young auctioneer, Travis Cawiezel.

Special thanks to all the people in the maintenance, housekeeping and dietary departments of the hospital. You were SO helpful and willing.

Lastly, to those of the community who came out and supported us with donations and purchases and all those who I may have missed that helped make our event a success – many thanks. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Art In The Badlands will be on June 23, 2011!!

(for pictures of the submissions, click on the title of this blog)
Last year, submissions from our artist supporters and local businesses garnered a whopping $20,000 for much needed Laparoscopic Equipment. That equipment has been ordered and will soon be in service.

This year the proceeds will go toward the purchase of a Pediatrics Vital Signs Monitor
for the smallest members of our community.
Please join us at the Drumheller Health Centre
Thursday, June 23 from 4:00pm to 7:30pm. The Silent Auction opens at 4:00pm, the Live Auction is at 5:30 pm featuring Local Artists. Silent Auction winners will be announced between 5:30 and the end of the live auction. Admission is free. You must sign in and receive a bidder’s card to be eligible to bid. Refreshments are available for your enjoyment for a fundraising fee.

For more information: contact the Secretary’s Office by calling 403-820-7266,
Email: Linda.Ames@albertahealthservices.ca,
or check out our pictures on our Face book page located at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Drumheller-Area-Health-Foundation/129598297065194 (See last year’s submissions there too!)

Gifts from the Heart

Charles and Kathleen Urch were fondly remembered in a very special way this Valentine’s Day.

Their son, Doug Urch, donated $25,000 in their honor. That gift has purchased a 5’ Memorial Garden Bench for the Garden, a 20’ cu/ft Freezer for the Recreation Therapy department and a 55” LCD Television, Oxygen concentrator, a Hoshizaki Ice/Water dispenser, a VersaCare bed, and a Magnification Machine (for those who have difficulty reading) designated to the Continuing Care Unit.

Charles was a resident of the Continuing Care unit until his passing in 2008 at the age of 96. The bench will be placed in the garden with a view of the river valley this spring when the snow is gone. The plaque says ‘Charles and Kathleen Urch’ – ‘Endless Sunsets – Perpetual Memories’ All donations to the Drumheller Area Health Foundation are administered as the family requests and, best yet, all your donated dollars stay in the Drumheller Valley to provide funding for our Healthcare needs

Linda Ames
 your Foundation
Secretary

Summer is quickly getting away from us all. After the ‘Art in the Badlands’ fundraising event, I spent a few weeks with my new granddaughter. Now it’s back to business as usual!

The ‘Art in the Badlands’ fundraising Auction was truly a wonderful success. With the support of the businesses, artists, craftspeople and all our neighbors, we were able to raise over $20,000 for Laparoscopic Equipment for our hospital’s Operating Room. Thanks goes especially to the contributors that helped make our event better than ever! All together, we had 40 submissions for the Fine Art, Quilts and Crafts Live Auction, 32 submissions for Silent Auction, and 4 really great Raffle items. Admission was free and there was Strawberry Shortcake, punch and coffee provided by the Drumheller Co-op, Extra Foods, IGA, Drumheller Wal-Mart and our wonderful volunteers.

The weather cooperated (after a delay due to rain on the original scheduled date) and all was sold on June 24th. The submissions were displayed in the hospital’s front lobby shop and on Facebook. We hope to be able to do the same next year.
Next year our tentative date for the 3rd Annual ‘Art in the Badlands’ Auction will be June 24th (a Thursday again). We’ll do it rain or shine – outdoors if it’s nice, indoors if it isn’t.
The Drumheller Area Health Foundation would like to thank the following for their Fine Art and Craft submissions:
Dan Weibe of WB Studios; Leila Bjerland of WB Studios; Janet Grabner of Caracol Clay Studio ; Rosalee Nimmo; Christeen Neffgen; Bertram Drilling Corporation; Mr. John Ryning; Mike Todor; Gwen Hampton of Mountain View Credit Union-Morrin Branch; Royal Sproule; Dianne Faulter; Home - Town Realty, Inc; Robert Haines; Amy Kuskee; Mark's Work Wearhouse; Harry and Di Stack of Scapa Log Works; Jane Dau; Bits and Pieces Keepsake Quilting; Nancy Guntrip; Gerda Sallows; Pioneer Trail Society; and Martha Lynn of Touch of Class Custom Quilting.

We’d also like to thank the following for their support by providing sponsorship, the Silent Auction submissions and the Raffle Items:

99.5 Drum FM; Gus and June Mattheis of Alberta Cottage Rest A-While Bed and Breakfast; Alberta Treasury Branch, Drumheller Branch; Mr. Nick Schinnour of Auto Sense Auto Parts/Allied Distributors; Joyce Bell; Bertram Drilling Corporation; Bill Cross Men's Shop; BMO - Bank Of Montreal, Drumheller Branch; The Calgary Flames Club; The Calgary Stampeders; The Canadian Badlands Passion Play; Chinook Credit Union of Drumheller; The Chop Shop; Curves of Drumheller; Drumheller Centre of Natural Foods; Dr. Ivan Chan of Drumheller Chiropractic Centre; Drumheller Co-Op Ltd; Drumheller Dragons Hockey Club - Drumheller Minor Hockey Association; Drumheller Equipment Sales; Drumheller Mail; Extra Foods, Drumheller; Gus's Corner Restaurant Inc.; H and H Optical (Drumheller) Ltd.; Highway 9 Express, Ltd. ; Karen Hansen; IGA Drumheller; Sherri and Don Tchir of Kneehill Creek Trees; Bev and Gary Krabsen; Darrell and Barb Steeves of Looking Good Fashions; Dr. and Mrs. Boris Nahornick; Old Grouch's; Janice Burke of Over The Rainbow Giftware; Q91 Country, Drumheller; RBC- Royal Bank Of Canada, Drumheller Branch; R and J Flowers (Specialties, Inc); Reality Bytes Of Drumheller; Rosebud Theatre; Cindy Malmberg of The Rosebud Theatre Gift Shop; The Royal Tyrell Museum Cooperating Society; Mr. Arsen Gincher of Shoppers Drug Mart, Drumheller Store #2346; SJ Fashions, Inc.; Joan Snyder;  Dave and Lori Powell of The Sports Room Source For Sports; Doug and Carol Stanford; Starland County; Strings and Things Drumheller; Wade's Jewellery Ltd;  Wave Electronics; Westergard Motors Drumheller; Yavis Family Restaurant; and many anonymous donors, Thanks so very much!

A huge thank-you goes to our tireless volunteers who answered questions in the display centre for the weeks prior to the auction and helped throughout the event:
Monica Sleep; Yvonne Friedley; Lynn Zacharuk; Maxine Popovich; Delphine Viczko; Rita Pallesen; Betty Montgomery and June Currie.

Special thanks to
Joan Snyder and Don Pontifex who organized all the art and silent auction submissions; Kathy Dudley for her tireless assistance throughout the planning and implementation of the event; Linda Krieger who coordinated the volunteers; Aaron Krabsen, who tickled the keyboard; Dr. Neffgen (maestro extraordinaire); Skip McArthur, our tireless auctioneer; Lisa Simmil and her recreation therapy assistants; and the wonderful Maintenance and Food Service workers who made things run so smoothly.

Let’s do this again next year!

Donations - Caring for your health needs:

Thanks to the generous members of the community, the Drumheller Area Health Foundation has been able to purchase an ambulance, birthing bed, colonscope, CT Scan, Ultrasound and Cardiac Monitoring equipment plus a wide range of critical patient-care equipment and assistance.

Every donation is important and appreciated

But Best of All!

ALL donations stay in the Drumheller area!

Make a difference today and support healthcare in the Valley.

Thank you for your support.