April 20, 2008

Valley Bluegrass donation to hospital is a cause for celebration

Members of the Ottawa Valley Bluegrass committee met with Renfrew Victoria Hospital officials recently to present $8,000 raised at the 2007 bluegrass festival. The gathering included, front row from left, Bluegrass committee members Sheila Warren, Carole Mooney and Arnold and Barb Dickson, and back row, RVH nurse manager Cheryl White with Bluegrass committee members Kirk Warren, Darrell Mooney, Shelley White, Bob Johnston, Kevin White, RVH Foundation Director Barb Desilets and CEO Randy Penney. Committee member Julie Johnston was unavailable for the photo.

Bluegrass in the Renfrew area is normally a summer pursuit.

Thousands of people now make the pilgrimage to the Bob Johnston farm to hear North America’s best bluegrass artists and enjoy the mid-July weekend of family entertainment that has become a Valley tradition.

Organizers of the concert are already planning this summer’s festival, and they took some time out recently to celebrate their ongoing success.

The highlight of their celebration was delivering an $8,000 cheque from last year’s festival proceeds to Renfrew Victoria Hospital.

The money is being spent on a new intubation and anaesthesia cart for the operating room, and Nurse Manager Cheryl White was on hand to tell the contributors all about it. She noted that staff are now studying catalogues and medical literature to ensure they make the best choice suited to their workflow in the OR.

RVH CEO Randy Penney was also at the gathering to express the hospital’s appreciation for the ongoing support of the Bluegrass Festival organizers.

Since 1997, the group has made sizeable annual contributions to the hospital. Even in the first few years, when the festival was losing money, they made the decision to make a donation to their community hospital.

From the very first donation, when festival organizers contributed their own time and skills to redecorating a long-term patient room, the tradition has grown to include life-saving equipment in the emergency department, upgrades in the dialysis unit and surgical laparoscopic camera equipment.

“We’ve had lots of growth, and there is still lots of growth to happen,” commented Penney, pointing to current plans to add a CT service.

“It’s this level of dedicated contribution from people and organizations in our community that makes it possible,” he adds.

Members of the Valley Bluegrass organizing committee include: Bob and Julie Johnston, Darrell and Carole Mooney, Kevin and Shelley White, Kirk and Sheila Warren and Arnold and Barb Dickson.

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(For further information, please contact Barb Desilets, RVH Foundation Director, 613-432-4851 ext. 263.)