McDonald’s Kirkland Lake Donates $10,930 to Blanche River Health Foundation
Gift will support purchase of new cardiac equipment
A $10,930 donation will help equip local clinicians with modern, new cardiac equipment at Blanche River Health, announced Darrell Doucet, Owner, McDonald’s Kirkland Lake and John Sullivan, Chair, Blanche River Health Foundation.
“McDonald’s is proud to support Blanche River Health Foundation’s fundraising efforts to buy new cardiac equipment,” said Doucet. “We’re giving back to help support our clinicians and the members of our community who rely on them when they need it most.”
The donation is the result of a campaign McDonald’s launched in March, 2023. Ten per cent of sales from the last Wednesday of every month are set aside for an annual donation to Blanche River Health Foundation.
The donation brings to $20,137.17 the amount raised towards Blanche River Health’s campaign to raise $146,000 for the purchase of:
- One automatic compression machine, used to provide patients with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when their heart has stopped beating. The machine would be for the Kirkland Lake site, as Englehart already has one.
- Replacement of seven cardiac monitors used at both sites by clinicians to ensure they are aware of any changes in heart activity.
- Two automatic emergency defibrillators (AEDs) to help restart a patient’s heart when it has suddenly stopped beating.
According to the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System, heart disease is the second leading cause of death after cancer, and a leading cause of hospitalization. Meanwhile, 24.7 per cent of the population in Temiskaming are more than 65 years old, compared to 18.5 per cent for Ontario, according to Statistic Canada’s 2021 census of the population.
“When patients show up at Blanche River Health with heart issues, the need for modern cardiac equipment to help stabilize and care for them is vital, whether they remain in the community or are transferred out of town,” said Sullivan. “We are incredibly grateful for McDonald’s generosity, and for contributing to the health of the community, its customers and employees.”
The Blanche River Health Foundation raises money to bridge the gap between what the government funds, such as hospital operating costs, and doesn’t, such as medical equipment.
Individuals can support the cardiac fundraiser by making individual donations online at www.blancheriverhealth.ca, calling (866) 274-7774 ext. 2156, mailing a cheque marked “Cardiac Fund” to Blanche River Health Foundation, 145 Government Road East, Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3P4 or buying lottery tickets at www.splitthepot.ca.
Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas.
Photo caption: Members of the Blanche River Health Foundation present McDonald's Kirkland Lake with a plaque to thank them for a recent donation. (L to R) Nancy Prince, BRH Foundation, Patricia French, BRH Foundation, Shannon Boyd, Operations Supervisor, McDonald's, Mitch Moreau, BRH Foundation, Brian Bronson, BRH Foundation, Darrell Doucet, Owner, McDonald's, Marcel Joliat, BRH Foundation, Rene Boudreault, BRH Foundation, Jorge VanSlyke, President and CEO, Blanche River Health.