Marty the Marmot’s among the most prepared of mascots after a quick training session on splints this week at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The Victoria Royals mascot was on hand for a tutorial and photo shoot to promote the second annual Hockey for Hospitals campaign.
When the local hockey team seeks to slay the Vancouver Giants on March 5, the goal is to raise $27,000 for three specialized electric stretchers for the emergency departments at Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital.
“Last year, the emergency departments at Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals helped more than 108,000 people, including more than 14,000 children,” said Dr. Christine Hall. “Many of these patients will need a stretcher, and it’s comforting to know our hospitals will have the most advanced equipment. We are thrilled to be working with the Royals again this year. When community members work together to help our hospitals the outcome always benefits patients.”
Joined by Cam Hope, Victoria Royals president and GM, Darren Parker, Royals senior VP of sales and marketing, Melanie Mahlman, executive director of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and Dr. Christine Hall of Island Health, Marty helped demonstrate the weighing feature of the high-tech electric stretchers. In trauma and critical situations medications are given based on weight. Once Marty’s once-over was complete, he learned a little about splinting.
“The Victoria Royals are proud to help raise funds for our local hospitals so that patients can be cared for with the best equipment available. It’s gratifying to see the community and our fans step up and support our hospitals on game night,” Hope said. “These stretchers are going to make a difference to a lot of people — you never know when you’ll find yourself in the emergency room.”
Last year’s inaugural Hockey for Hospitals fans raised $25,000 for three transportable vital signs monitors for the ER at VGH.
The Royals face the Giants at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on March 5.
Tickets are available online at selectyourtickets.com/promo. Use the promo code STRETCHERS to be entered to win a game night prize package, which includes the box suite for six for the game, dinner for six at Bin 4 Burger, and luxury transport from L.A. Limousines to and from the game.
Did you know?
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation works in partnership with Island Health to enable donations to Vancouver Island’s two largest and most comprehensive hospitals: the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General. Last year, they raised nearly $7 million for urgently needed medical equipment and special projects that help these two hospitals provide care to all 765,000 residents of Vancouver Island. Since 1989, the Victoria Hospitals Foundation has raised nearly $114.5 million to benefit our hospitals. For more information, call the foundation at 250-519-1750 or visit victoriahf.ca.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com