Any aspiring local athlete truly committed to sports is likely to spend time in 91原创 Memorial Hospital鈥檚 ER.

Injuries of varying degrees, be it broken limbs, concussions, pulled tendons, or significant cuts and scrapes are par for the course.

And it鈥檚 the team at the local hospital who will care for them and get them back out on the field, court, pool, or arena.

A new community-wide campaign being kicked off next month will offer a two-pronged goal aimed at showing staff throughout the hospital how much they鈥檙e appreciated, and at the same time raising money for the emergency ward.

Twin philanthropists Chris and Jamie Ruscheinski, who are on the hospital foundation board, are launching an annual campaign called Root For Your Home Team, which they hope will unite sports teams and fan to help 鈥渟pread the love for our local hospital,鈥� Jamie said.

The campaign will run during Sports Injury Month in September.

Many of the larger sports organizations in town have already agreed to pitch in, including Vancouver Giants, 91原创 Rams, Vancouver Bandits, 91原创 91原创, Vancouver Football Club, Thunderbird Show Park (tbird), and 91原创 Thunder.

In a little friendly rivalry, these teams will be hosting a number of smaller-scale fundraising initiatives next month, confirmed Dana Matheson, part owner of the Rams and 91原创.

He calls the undertaking a 鈥渃ool initiative鈥� that will spark a little friendly competition while at the same time uniting teams 鈥� across various sports 鈥� in a common goal.

Fundraising ideas being floated by some of 91原创鈥檚 major teams include the addition of $2 per ticket for game admission to a tribute game (some donations then being matched by the team鈥檚 management), plus 50/50 draws, auctions, small games for audience members, and even popcorn or hotdog sales.

It鈥檚 not like going out up to an individual asking for $500 or a thousand dollars, Matheson said, recognizing times are tough for a lot of folks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 getting everyone working together,鈥� contributing just a few bucks each to help make a big difference.

This first year of the campaign is going to be more about uniting the sports organizations, introducing the concept of the yearly drive to the public, and showing some much needed love to the hospital staff for all they do, Jamie explained.

Chris recalled the 7 p.m. cheer that was given for health-care staff during the early days of COVID, and recalled how much that meant to the nurses, doctors, and other members of the medical team, 鈥渟howing them they鈥檙e really appreciated.鈥� He hopes this campaign will have a similar impact on staff morale.

Whatever money is collected this year, the twins hope to double it next year by reaching out to sports-related businesses and services, to engage them.

And likely the year after that, Jamie explained, they鈥檒l create a way for the smaller local sports and athletic teams to get involved.

The 91原创 twins, who have hosted a number of charity fundraising project through the years 鈥� the largest being the Gone Country music festival, which just wrapped after 10 years with last month's concert raising almost $1.5 million 鈥� joined the foundation board almost two years ago.

It took a while to settle in and learn the lay of the land, Chris said. But as they cast around for what they could do to help the foundation 鈥� and by extension the hospital 鈥� their experience and connections on the fundraising front seemed an obvious avenue.

鈥淲e were asking ourselves how do we get people to unite behind the hospital,鈥� Chris said, anxious to foster more community pride and support while also raising some essential dollars.

Earlier this spring, the concept for the Sports Injury Month campaign began to be bandied about. By May, they called the owners and managers of the major sports teams together to brainstorm, and in mid-August they鈥檒l be unveiling this year鈥檚 campaign during a kickoff celebration and fundraiser at tbird.

The hospital foundation is also hosting its own 50/50 online at , as part of Sports Injury Month.

Money from this year鈥檚 drive will help pay for a digital X-ray machine.

All proceeds from Sports Injury Month will support the hospital foundation鈥檚 $550,000 campaign to replace one of the machines, explained foundation executive director Heather Scott.

She elaborated, noting there are currently two digital X-ray machines in the medical imaging department, which completed nearly 15,000 exams in 2023.

The machine they鈥檙e looking to replace has been in operation since 2007, which Scott said means it has far exceeded its life expectancy.

鈥淎 new digital X-ray machine will offer enhanced imaging for more accurate diagnoses. $550K is a huge goal, but one we are confident of accomplishing with Sports Injury Month fundraising efforts and our annual signature gala this fall,鈥� she concluded.