Hitting all the right notes as Pay to Play radiothon raises $17,515 for PRHC

The Hustle and Heart Oldies 96.7 (now 96.7 WOW FM) Pay to Play radiothon, presented by Home Instead, hit all the right notes this year, raising $17,515 in support of patient care at PRHC.

On Friday, June 5, the airwaves were filled with more than just classic hits, favourite themes and personal anthems. Every song request, dedication and inspiring patient story reminded us what makes our community so special: people coming together to make a real difference for each other.

As part of the Campaign for PRHC, the radiothon was a true team effort. 96.7 host Bill Porter kept the music and the momentum going all day long, while the MBC team, generous sponsors, grateful patients, dedicated fundraisers, PRHC leadership, physicians, nurses, staff, Foundation supporters and music lovers across the region all played an important role in making the radiothon a success.

We’re grateful to presenting sponsor, Home Instead, for helping bring this event to life and to our outstanding hourly sponsors: the Santos Auto Group, including Mercedes-Benz Peterborough, Port Hope Volkswagen, Port Hope Chrysler and Port Hope Hyundai, The Wilson Team-Real Estate, Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory, Whelans Flooring Centre and Suzi HomeMaker Ptbo.

A big thank you to everyone who donated, requested a song, shared a personal story or made a special dedication. Together, you’re helping fund state-of-the-art equipment, bring lifesaving new services to our region, fuel innovation and attract the talented healthcare professionals our community depends on. That’s music to all our ears!

Thanks to donor support, patients can access Endoscopic Ultrasound closer to home

When the first procedure using Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) was performed at PRHC in March 2026, it marked more than the introduction of new technology. It represented a major milestone made possible by the generosity of donors, one that is already improving care for patients from across our region.

The first EUS procedure at PRHC was performed by gastroenterologist Dr. Olufemi Aoko, using specialized, donor-funded equipment. EUS combines an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera) and ultrasound technology to create detailed, real-time images of the gastrointestinal tract and nearby organs, including the pancreas, liver and gallbladder. It helps physicians diagnose complex conditions, stage cancers, guide biopsies and plan treatment with greater precision.

Until now, patients who needed this advanced procedure had to travel to other hospitals, often while facing significant uncertainty about their diagnosis. Today, thanks to donor support, they can receive this care much closer to home, surrounded by family and loved ones.

“Before EUS was launched at PRHC, we would have had to send patients to other hospitals,” says Dr. Aoko, who joined PRHC in October 2025. “Having access to this technology was a big selling point for me when deciding to come to Peterborough.”

“Every gift to PRHC Foundation helps make moments like this possible,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “Your generosity is helping PRHC grow specialized programs, attract exceptional physicians like Dr. Aoko and ensure families in our region have access to the best possible care without travelling so far. We’re so grateful for every donor who is making that future possible.”

“What you’ve done means so much”

For years, Jessica endured a deep pain and “heaviness” in her pelvis. It worsened over time and with each pregnancy. “I’m a busy mom of three, was in my early 40s, and working full time,” she says. “I assumed it was my new normal.”

An exam and medical imaging for an unrelated issue led to an answer to the years of pain. Jessica was diagnosed with severe pelvic congestion syndrome, a chronic condition linked to blood flow that causes pelvic veins to swell and twist.

Doctors were able to offer relief through a procedure that could be done quickly in the new, donor-funded interventional radiology suites. “I was grateful when I learned there was a
procedure that could treat it, available right here at PRHC. I don’t think I could have travelled out of town,” she says.

In November, Jessica underwent a minimally invasive pelvic vein embolization with interventional radiologist Dr. Fady Abdelsayed in one of the three advanced suites. “From the
moment I arrived, I felt safe and cared for,” she recalls. “The space was bright, open and calming, and I couldn’t believe the tiny tools that were used through just one small incision to block off the veins.” The team explained each step with the state-of-art technology and ensured she was comfortable. 

Having delivered her children at PRHC and donated to Foundation initiatives, Jessica says the hospital has long been part of her story. “I trust the people at PRHC because they’re part of my community,” she says. And she reiterates that it’s thanks to donors that she didn’t have to travel far from home for that personalized, life-changing care.

“I went in on a Friday and was at work Tuesday without much pain,” Jessica says. Soon she was back to running, hiking and camping. “I realized the huge change in my quality of life, what
it’s like to do the things I love with the people I love without pain,” she says. “I have so much appreciation for the donors who made this possible. What you’ve done means so much to me, to the people who will receive care here. You’ve made all the difference for us.”

For more information on your impact, please call 705-876-5000.

Welcoming the New Year with gratitude for you

We’re grateful for your generosity and for everything you’ve helped make possible for patients from across our region in 2025.

It’s thanks to your steadfast support that the Campaign for PRHC has raised an outstanding $58.8 million as of June 30, 2025, reaching 84% of our $70 million goal. As we approach the New Year, we celebrate this milestone with gratitude and look forward to what we can achieve together in the months ahead.

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Celebrating donors’ $6 million reimagination of interventional radiology at PRHC

On December 9, 2025, donors gathered at Peterborough Regional Health Centre with the PRHC Foundation and members of the hospital’s leadership team to celebrate the official completion of the Campaign for PRHC’s $6 million investment in interventional radiology (IR) made possible by the generosity of our regional community.

Guests toured the bright, modern spaces where PRHC’s IR team now performs some of today’s most advanced minimally invasive procedures. It was an opportunity to see the new, cutting-edge technology and better understand the impact that donations are having on patient care at PRHC.

“This is a transformative moment for patient care at PRHC,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “Because of you, the Health Centre’s experts have the advanced tools and space they need to perform even more complex, minimally invasive procedures right here, while innovating for the future. Thank you!”

Interventional radiology is a fast-growing field. Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, PRHC Interventional Radiologist says, “Interventional radiology is the future of medicine. Using real-time imaging technologies such as CT, X-ray and ultrasound, we perform procedures through a tiny incision, using only needles, wires, and catheters. This means less pain, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays compared to conventional surgery. We’re so grateful to the donors for their generosity. Their support means we can deliver even better care in our region.”

The renovation and upgrade were made possible through a multi-year fundraising effort championed by grateful patient ambassadors, PRHC’s interventional radiologists, nurses and medical radiation technologists, hospital leadership, and donors from across the region. This collaboration raised an extraordinary $6 million to expand PRHC’s two existing IR suites, replace out-of-date equipment with state-of-the-art imaging technology, and add a third suite dedicated to rapid, high-demand procedures. The preparation and recovery area was also expanded to accommodate 14 patients instead of ten.

Before this advancement, PRHC’s five interventional radiologists, who work on a 24/7 rotation, were already performing more than 6,000 procedures a year. Now, on a typical day, they’re equipped to care for 20 to 25 patients suffering from critical conditions such as cancer, stroke, organ failure, bleeding and trauma, among others.

As a regional hospital, PRHC’s IR team supports a population of more than 300,000 people across Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Peterborough, and North Hastings County. With the new suites, PRHC is better positioned to meet the growing regional demand for minimally invasive care, enhance patient outcomes, continue attracting and retaining top medical talent, and pave the way for the future introduction of new minimally invasive treatment options.

“Donor vision and support have once again proven to be a driving force behind innovation at PRHC,” says Dr. Lynn Mikula, President & CEO of PRHC. “Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible for patients from across our region. Thank you so much.”

BWXT Peterborough raises an incredible $100,000 for cancer care at PRHC

We are grateful to BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc.’s Peterborough team for their extraordinary generosity. Through the dedication and community spirit of their employees, BWXT Peterborough raised an incredible $100,000 in support of reimagining cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

This generosity will help PRHC invest in state-of-the-art cancer care technology like digital pathology.

Did you know?

PRHC’s pathologists play a crucial role in diagnosing cancer by examining tissue and blood samples. Traditionally, this work requires a microscope and physical slides. With digital pathology, pathologists can instead view high-resolution digital images on a computer monitor.

This advancement means:

  • Faster, more accurate diagnoses
  • Easier collaboration, with digital images securely shared and reviewed by specialists anywhere in the world
  • Greater efficiency, helping experts make timely decisions for patients and their families

Thank you BWXT for investing in the future of cancer care at PRHC. Your generosity is helping patients receive world-class care close to home, when it matters most.

Another record-breaking year for Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival

On October 6, the PRHC Foundation welcomed members of the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival Planning Committee, the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team, Platinum Sponsor Kawartha Credit Union, paddlers, volunteers and supporters, to celebrate the Festival’s historic achievement: A record-breaking donation of $400,104.01 – the largest single gift in the Festival’s history!

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