Pictured left to right at the announcement of PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC are PRHC vascular surgeon Dr. Heather Cox, PRHC Foundation Board Chair Dan Moloney, PRHC Foundation campaign ambassador and grateful patient Jennie Ireland, PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway, PRHC President & CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula, and PRHC Foundation campaign ambassador David Morton.
Today, Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation embarked on a transformative journey with the official launch of its $60 million Campaign for PRHC, marking the largest fundraising effort in both the hospital’s and the PRHC Foundation’s history. This ambitious initiative aims to reimagine healthcare delivery at the hospital, propelling innovation, and elevating care for patients from across the region.
“Our hospital is at a crossroads,” stated Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO, emphasizing the critical need for continued investment. “Our hospital and the communities we serve are facing serious problems. We need creative, inspired, efficient solutions to tackle them. Without advancements in technology and increased capacity, we risk leaving our patients behind. Today, we choose to design our healthcare future.
Guided by a dedicated volunteer Campaign Council and PRHC’s forward-thinking vision, the campaign is set to achieve several key objectives:
- Empowering World-Class Care: Bringing advanced medical care closer to home
- Fuelling Innovation: Introducing new lifesaving services and pioneering treatments
- Attracting Top Healthcare Professionals: Cultivating an environment that attracts the brightest minds in medicine
- Inspiring Solutions: Addressing critical hospital challenges head-on
Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC’s President & CEO, endorsed the campaign, saying that PRHC is at a decisive point in the hospital’s evolution, poised and ready to achieve great things, but that the support of donors is critical to their success.
“PRHC is a thriving organization that’s home to incredibly dedicated and compassionate professionals, but the present and future are not without their challenges,” said Mikula. “We simply can’t move forward without the partnership of individuals, families, and organizations who share our vision for this hospital and what we can achieve together.”
The campaign’s focus spans vital healthcare areas such as cardiac care, cancer treatment, minimally invasive surgeries, interventional radiology, mental health and addictions services, and a physician-driven innovation accelerator. These investments are pivotal to maintaining PRHC’s position at the forefront of medical excellence.
Jennie Ireland, a cancer survivor and patient ambassador, shared her deeply personal journey: “When I heard the words, ‘you have breast cancer,’ life as I knew it came to a screeching halt. PRHC became my lifeline. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, today I’m cancer-free. Being treated in my community meant less worry and had a hugely positive impact on my recovery.”
David Morton, long-time donor and former Chair of the Breaking New Ground campaign, reflected on the community’s commitment to PRHC: “It’s our hope that our support will inspire others to join us as we come together once again to reimagine healthcare in our region. This hospital is our hospital and I am confident that the community will once again support this campaign so that we can continue to be so proud of this wonderful facility.”
Since its quiet inception in 2020, the Campaign for PRHC has garnered significant momentum, achieving an impressive 75% of its $60 million goal through early donor support, totalling $45.5 million to date. This early success has already translated into tangible improvements, including upgraded Cath Lab suites, state-of-the-art CT scanners, a second MRI machine, the new Scotiabank Youth Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program, and ongoing renovations to enhance patient care facilities.
Looking ahead, the Campaign for PRHC will fund projects like the expansion of PRHC’s cardiac labs to include the introduction of electrophysiology, improvements to the Emergency Department’s mental health and addictions Crisis Response Unit, the establishment of a hybrid operating room for vascular disease, and the introduction of digital pathology to expedite cancer diagnosis.
Lesley Heighway expressed heartfelt gratitude to early supporters: “Your commitment sets the stage for continued progress. As we enter the public phase of our campaign, your generosity will inspire others to join us in reimagining healthcare in our region.”