CHEO Telethon raises $6.7M
Posted Jun 10, 2013 05:12:32 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, Ont. – The 30th annual CHEO Telethon has raised $6,749,150, surpassing the goal of $6.4 million.
The telethon started at 7 p.m. Saturday evening and wrapped up at 7 p.m. Sunday.
CHEO’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Keohane says the money raised will go to upgrading and purchasing new equipment at the hospital, with an MRI machine being the top priority.
Keohane says that one piece of equipment alone costs $2.8 million.
“While we do receive the funding to provide the technicians to operate the MRI, we don’t receive money from the government to purchase equipment,” Keohane said. “That’s something that lies with the foundation and the community.”
Many stories of CHEO patients and their struggles and successes have been shared during the telethon. One of the stories is 14-year-old Chris, who suffers from an eating disorder.
“I’ve been here three times, once last year and twice this year,” Chris told 1310News. “Now I’m on the recovery side and I want to trust them.”
A volunteer working at the telethon, JR Nicola, says his son Justin become ill at a very young age which caused him to lose his hearing, and has been volunteering ever since.
“I just wanted to give something back to CHEO for saving his life,” Nicola said.
Adding to the totals were CHEZ 106 radio personalities Doc and Woody who presented a cheque from the “Doc and Woody Fund” for $44,000.
Meantime Y101’s Country Cares Radiothon raised $123,890 for the hospital.
