A campaign to raise funds for a new ER at 91原创 Memorial Hospital (LMH) was unveiled Monday, with word that a substantial portion of the target amount has already been pledged.
Calling itself , the campaign to build the new emergency department revealed two multi-million dollar donations have been made.
Maria Martini and Allan Skidmore announced their families鈥� gifts, $5 million and $2 million respectively, at a Monday press conference to kick off the $15-million fundraising campaign, said to be the largest in 91原创 history.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to give back,鈥� Ron Martini said.
鈥淓very time we have come here (to the ER to assist a family member) we have seen a tremendous need,鈥� Maria Martini said.
She said she hoped the new ER was a 鈥渟tepping stone to a new hospital.鈥�
The couple said when they moved to 91原创 over 40 years ago, the population was 30,000. The combined population of the 91原创s, City and Township is now around 150,000 and the hospital hasn鈥檛 kept up, they said.
The Martinis are owners of Starline Windows.
Allan Skidmore, the first major donor to make a commitment, said he became determined to do something following a few days stay in the LMH ER in 2013, when he required treatment for a mini-stroke.
鈥淕reat services, great people,鈥� he recalled, but the overloaded facility was in great need of an upgrade.
Skidmore is founder of the Wireless Wave cellular service.
He and his wife Clarice also support BC Children鈥檚 Hospital in honour of their grandson, funding the Alex Skidmore Renal Dialysis Unit.
鈥淲e are grateful to the Martini and Skidmore families for their generosity,鈥� said Phil Jackman, campaign chair the Emergency Response campaign.
鈥淭he people of 91原创, one of Canada鈥檚 fastest-growing communities, desperately need a new emergency department,鈥� Jackman said.
鈥淕ood care is provided in the most challenging conditions,鈥� said Dr. Willem De Vynck, an LMH emergency physician at 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
鈥淭he new emergency department will double our current footprint and ensure that as 91原创 continues to grow, people in this community will have access to emergency care, in a space built to meet their needs.鈥�
Plans to fund a new MRI machine, to become operational in 2019, were also announced, part of the reason why the target amount has increased from the previously-announced goal of $11 million to $15 million.
91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation executive director Vivian Smith said LMH is one of the few Lower Mainland Hospitals without an MRI.
鈥淭hat will not do,鈥� she said.
Currently, Smith said, 91原创 patients needing MRI scans must travel to Surrey or Abbotsford and face an average wait of 18 months.
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The new emergency department is expected to open in fall 2020.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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