Help advance Cancer Care at KGH

Every Donation will be Matched!

KELOWNA, BC, May 8, 2024 – Whit Penner, a fervent hockey fan, dog dad, and family man never expected, at the age of 36, to be told, “You have cancer.” But Whit is far from alone. Last year, over 7,500 people underwent surgery or were admitted for cancer-related care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).

“We know that advancing Cancer Care is important to our community,” says Allison Young, CEO of the KGH Foundation. “We all want the confidence in knowing that when this life-altering disease affects you or someone you love, world-class diagnostics and surgical care are available, close to home.”

Which is why, on Wednesday, May 15, the annual KGH Day of Giving is dedicated to raising funds to advance Cancer Care at KGH, specifically in the areas of medical imaging, pathology, surgical oncology and innovation. The annual fundraiser is a one-day call to action for the community to come together in support of excellence in local health care.

Thanks to the generosity of local families, all funds raised on KGH Day of Giving, up to $500,000 will be matched dollar for dollar until 11:59 p.m. on May 15.

In April 2023, the Foundation launched the $40 million, Closer to home than you think campaign to address the growing concerns facing health care specifically in the southern interior region, including cancer care.

“What matters most is the health care that’s being delivered right here, where we live,” explains Young. “For most cancer patients living in the Central Okanagan, Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) will be a huge part of their journey and we need to advance cancer care where it matters most for them.”

A person navigating a cancer diagnosis often follows a journey with medical imaging, possible biopsy, surgery as a primary intervention, and pathology or lab testing to provide critical information about the cancer type and characteristics.

The KGH Day of Giving supports the equipment and innovations needed to support advanced imaging, faster and more accurate test results, more effective and less invasive procedures, and enhanced patient care in this community.

“We know that leaving one’s home to travel for a test or procedure is disruptive, costly and affects one’s mental health,” states Dr. Fahd Jowhari, Interventional Gastroenterologist at KGH. “This, on top of an already stressful situation for a patient and their caregivers, is incredibly challenging. It’s just one reason why this campaign is so important – it will support better patient care, close to home.”

To learn more, tune in to local Bell Media radio stations Virgin 99.9, Move 101.5 and Phil Johnson’s morning show on AM1150 on May 15. “We will share stories and learn first-hand from doctors and hospital staff about Cancer Care at KGH and also about the innovations and exciting advancements in patient care that funds through the KGH Day of Giving will support,” says Johnson.

“People of this community deserve excellence. But this journey needs all of us,” says Young. “Through support for the KGH Day of Giving, we can prioritize excellence in the standard of Cancer Care we can deliver at Kelowna General Hospital—because cancer touches all of us.”

There are several ways to give on May 15:

• By phone at 250-862-4438
• The drive-thru donation station Rose Ave and Pandosy St (under the hospital overhang), from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Online at kghfoundation.com
• If you’re stopped at the lights at Rose Ave and Pandosy St, drop some change (cash is welcome too!) in the buckets of our incredible Sprott Shaw College Change Bandits.

Since its inception seven years ago, Day of Giving has raised almost $4.6 million in support of KGH and community health care. The ongoing success of the annual fundraiser is a testament to the care, enthusiasm and generosity of the community, businesses and frontline caregivers to come together in support of a shared goal.

To make a gift or learn more about the KGH Foundation’s Day of Giving, please visit kghfoundation.com/day-of-giving.