17th Family First Radiothon raises a staggering $592,533 for MJ hospital

Community groups, corporations, local businesses, and individuals came together once again for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation’s (MJHF) Family First Radiothon, raising a staggering total of $592,533 for state-of-the-art equipment at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.

Titled Life Can Change in a Moment, the MJHF had set a goal of just $150,000 — meaning that in 36 hours, the radiothon raised nearly four times what its organizers hoped.

This 17th edition of the event, hosted on 800 CHAB, brings the total over the Radiothon’s lifetime to more than $5.4 million.

The equipment on the list in 2023 includes a critical care bed, ultrasound probe, patient beds, and a quickthaw plasma system.

The Radiothon is always widely supported and promoted. City of Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley and city councillors Crystal Froese and Doug Blanc were first on the phones at the Town n’ Country Mall, and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad company donated the first

$20,000.

Other groups volunteering to take calls included the Moose Jaw Fire Department, Canadian Forces members from 15 Wing, and the Royal Canadian Legion — which also donated $5,000 from its Poppy Fund.

Other large donations came from Gibson Energy ($15,000), the MJHF’s inaugural Healthcare Rocks tribute concert, hosted by Leroy and Leroy ($40,000), Brandt Construction ($2,000), and the RBC Foundation ($10,000).

An anonymous donor matched donations to $50,000 on the second day, and just before it all ended, the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital Auxiliary volunteers announced a jaw-dropping $400,000 contribution from the estate of Jack and Ruby Radu.

The money raised will all stay in Moose Jaw and continue to support the world-class services offered by the city’s hospital.

Meant to donate and missed it? Donations can still be made through the MJHF website at www.mjhf.org.