Royal Inland Hospital Foundation’s 11th annual Radiothon kicks off on B-100 Kamloops

Radio waves in Kamloops will be taken over by a good cause on Thursday (March 6), for the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation’s 11th annual Radiothon.

Each year, the Radiothon raises thousands of dollars for the hospital foundation to continue buying much-needed equipment for the region’s largest hospital, along with supporting doctor and nurse recruitment and scholarships for future healthcare workers.

“People can get together and buy one thing or a bunch of people can get together and buy a bed,” says RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman. “You might say, ‘Well, doesn’t the government buy that?’ We’ll say, ‘Sure, the government does give us $1.6 million a year with the regional hospital district but we don’t want one bed a year or two beds a year — we might need ten.’ That’s why we get donors to help us. The government will buy us probably everything but it could take 15 years and we need it today because we’re recruiting (for instance) that doctor who is coming today from Calgary and they want it here now.”

Phone lines open at 6:00 a.m. with live radio shows held throughout the day featuring interviews with doctors, hospital staff, patients and community members. This year, donations made during Radiothon will be matched by Jim Pattison Group, up to $200,000.

Donations can be made online or by calling 250-851-8821.

Radiothon runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on B-100. CFJC‘s Midday show will also be broadcasting live on CFJC TV and streaming live on CFJC Today from the hospital during the noon hour.