A record-breaking donation from Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival!

Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival cheque presentation to the PRHC Foundation

October 11th we joined the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival Planning Committee, the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team, Platinum Sponsor Kawartha Credit Union, volunteers, and supporters at the Crescent St. t-wharf for a celebration of the Festival’s record-breaking year. They presented the PRHC Foundation with a cheque for $290,025.18 – the largest single donation in the Festival’s history! 

PRHC Foundation President & CEO, Lesley Heighway, was there to express her gratitude for the Festival’s ongoing commitment to cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, on behalf of the Foundation, hospital, patients from across the region, and their loved ones. The Festival’s record-breaking 2023 success is a testament to our wonderful community’s generosity and will to come together for such an important cause. The efforts of so many organizers, paddlers, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and vendors have contributed to this amazing achievement.

You are transforming cancer care by helping PRHC invest in state-of-the-art technology to serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and provide safer, more effective treatments, close to home. Thank you!

Hometown team-work results in $64,870 donation from Petes Pink in the Rink!

On Tuesday, March 21, Peterborough Petes representatives and the Petes Pink in the Rink Hockey Moms were at PRHC to donate $64,870! – proceeds from the recent Pink in the Rink fundraising efforts, merchandise sales, game and auction – in support of expert, compassionate cancer care at PRHC. These funds will help the cancer care team serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and ensure safer, more effective treatments for patients from across our region.

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Cobourg resident was first patient at PRHC to receive new cancer treatment

Grateful patient Stuart Morley stands in front of the hospital

Two years ago, Cobourg resident Stuart Morley became the first PRHC patient to receive life-changing cancer treatment by interventional radiology radiofrequency ablation for a tumour on his kidney.

The amateur photographer tells how interventional radiologist Dr. Kebby King put a metal probe through a small cut in his skin and using a CT to guide her, found the tumour and dissolved it with radio waves. “It was amazing. I felt no pain and I was able to go home later that afternoon,” he says. “Now I’m back taking photos and looking forward to travelling the world again.”

Interventional radiology is often described as ‘the future of medicine.’ It’s used to diagnose and treat a wide range of emergency and chronic health conditions such as cancer and other illnesses, with less pain and risk, and shorter hospital stays.

Grateful for the great care he received and determined to help pave the way for new ground-breaking therapies to be offered at PRHC in the near future, Stuart donated to the PRHC Foundation.

He knows the need for interventional radiology is growing in our region. A $6 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment, upgraded suites, and an expanded recovery room are essential to meeting that need – so more patients, with more complex conditions can be diagnosed and treated close to home.

For more information on this exciting investment, please click here.

An update on PRHC: Realizing a truly regional health centre

A doctor performs a minimally invasive interventional radiology procedure.

Our donors often tell us that Peterborough Regional Health Centre sometimes feels like two hospitals in one. On one hand, they say the personalized, compassionate care provided today by PRHC’s healthcare professionals reminds them of the hospitals where their children were born.

On the other hand, the outstanding calibre of care, sheer scope of service, continuous introduction of new and innovative treatment options, and arrival of world-class experts, tells a different story.

We’re not just Peterborough’s hospital anymore. And that’s good news for everyone.

Becoming a Hub Hospital

The PRHC of 2022 is a significant player in provincial healthcare delivery. A fully regional health centre with an annual operating budget of $320 million, PRHC now supports regional referrals from five smaller partner hospitals within our catchment area, including Ross Memorial Hospital, Campbellford Memorial Hospital, Northumberland Hills Hospital, Minden Hospital, and Haliburton Highlands Hospital.

In fact, PRHC was recently designated by Ontario Health East, our regional health authority, as a fully integrated “hub” for care, similar to Kingston General Hospital, Lakeridge Health, and Scarborough Health Network. That means our hospital is now a peer of GTA facilities like North York General, Humber River Hospital, and Southlake Regional Health Centre.

These leaps forward did not happen by chance. They were realized thanks to the world-class care being provided by an outstanding healthcare team – care made possible by the state-of-the-art tools they’re able to use every day thanks to donor investments.

Accolades and Adversity

We’re very proud of the care being delivered at PRHC. This spring, the hospital achieved the highest possible Accreditation Canada results, receiving the designation “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” for the second time in a row.

Recently, PRHC was also awarded Stroke Distinction in Acute and Inpatient Rehabilitation Stroke Services by Accreditation Canada for the second time, indicating national leadership in the provision of high-quality stroke care.

These accolades would be amazing accomplishments in a normal year. They’re nothing short of exceptional during an ongoing crisis.

PRHC’s leadership and staff continue to respond to the tremendous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re also working hard to address the difficulties presented by the current healthcare human resources crisis, rising wait times, and external issues like the ongoing shortage of family doctors.

Donors are helping shoulder these burdens, giving PRHC’s healthcare professionals hope that with donor support, we can meet any challenges that come our way.

At the same time, we’re keeping our eye on the future. The need for care in our region is only increasing as our population grows and ages. We can’t lose sight of the investments that must be made now in order to respond to future needs.

Interventional Radiology: Tiny incisions with extraordinary impact

Interventional radiology is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of emergency and chronic health conditions – without major surgery. Because it involves only a small incision and no general anesthetic, it results in less pain and shorter hospital stays.

To treat a much wider range of patient conditions and to pave the way for new, lifesaving therapies in the near future, we’re working with donors to invest $6 million into expanding PRHC’s two existing Interventional Radiology suites, building a new step-down unit, and furnishing all with the latest technology.

Cancer Care: Expert treatment, compassionate care

With your support, we’re also investing $13 million in excellence in cancer care so we can serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and ensure safer and more effective treatments. This includes technology like a second MRI, to allow for an additional 5,000 procedures a year (representing a 53% growth in volume), so our oncologists can help more cancer patients who have no time to wait.

A Bold Vision

PRHC has a bold vision for the future: to be the go-to large acute care hospital for patients between Kingston and the GTA. But to get there, we need you by our side.

We hope you’ll consider supporting our hospital this holiday season. Together, we’ll shape the future of healthcare in our region.

Community events helping to fund world-class cancer care

Group of Dragon Boat paddlers with giant cheque

Through your support of incredible community events like Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, Couture Candy’s recent sweet treat fundraiser and the upcoming “Cancer Takedown 2022”, you’re investing in world-class cancer care at PRHC, helping your hospital to serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and ensure safer and more effective treatments.

This includes investments like a second MRI, to allow for an additional 5,000 procedures a year (representing a 53% growth in volume), and robotic preparation of chemotherapy medications – the same chemotherapy preparation system found at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and the next logical step for our Centre of Excellence for Cancer Care.

Last month, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival announced that they beat their goal and raised an amazing $202,268.41! And just recently, the team at Couture Candy PTBO donated a spectacular $16,700 raised through “Supporting Cancer Care is Sweet”!

Next, local celebrities Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne, Linda Kash, Megan Murphy and friends will present “Cancer Takedown 2022”. Please join them November 16 at Market Hall for an evening of song, story and solidarity in support of cancer care at PRHC. Tickets are available by phone at 705-775-1503, at the Market Hall box office (140 Charlotte Street – 3rd floor, Monday-Friday 12-5pm), or online.

Because of the inspiring hard work and generosity of event organizers and the participation of wonderful people like you, cancer patients from across our region can receive the expert, specialized care they need, close to home – instead of having to travel. Thank you!

Inaugural “Cancer Takedown” fundraiser takes place November 16th

Smiling woman

Join local celebrities Linda Kash and Megan Murphy on Wednesday, November 16th at 7 pm for a night of “song, story, and solidarity for anyone touched by cancer”.

The inaugural “Cancer Takedown” fundraiser will be held at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, with all proceeds supporting cancer care at PRHC.

Described as a “spirit-raiser” as much as a fundraiser, the evening will feature local musicians Kate Suhr and Melissa Payne and their bands, along with musical director Anthony Bastianon and singer, dancer, and actor Denise Oucharek. Along with the performances, people with cancer will also be sharing their stories.

Tickets are $50 for assigned cabaret table seating and $30 general admission seating. They can be purchased over the phone at 705-775-1503, in person at the Market Hall box office (140 Charlotte Street, 3rd floor – open Mon-Fri, noon to 5 p.m.) or online at tickets.markethall.org

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2022 Dragon Boat Festival raises $202,268.41!

Group of Dragon Boat paddlers with giant cheque

Proceeds support the future of cancer care at PRHC

The Dragon returned with a ROAR in June with it’s first in-person event since 2019.  Organizers set an aggressive goal of $180,000.00 and asked the community to #GETBACKINTHEBOAT as they pledged to make a difference, one race at a time.

Well, together they paddled right past their goal, raising an incredible $202,268.41!

Proceeds from the event will fund lifesaving equipment and technology used in the diagnosis and treatment of caner at PRHC. Together, we’re helping ensure the future of cancer care at our hospital, and in our region.

Thank you to the thousands of paddlers, donors, volunteers and sponsors who made this incredible donation possible.

A special shout out to Kawartha Credit Union who marked their 21st consecutive year as presenting sponsor – a remarkable demonstration of their commitment to both our community and the cause. Thank you!

The Dragon returns to Del Crary Park on Saturday, June 10, 2023 so mark your calendars and we’ll see you back out on the water!