WESTLOCK — Thanks to the generosity of Westlock and area residents every year, the Tree of Hope has shone brightly as a beacon for the community.
The Westlock Healthcare and Continuing Care centres are teaming up for the eighth-annual campaign that will support the cataract surgical program at the hospital this year — the campaign launched Nov. 14 and runs until Jan. 9, 2023.
The Tree of Hope began as a way for the hospital to fundraise for specific items they are in need of that aren't supported through other Alberta Health Services (AHS) campaigns, noted Westlock Healthcare Centre site director Joanne Good.
“We needed a way to fundraise that money, to reach out to our community members and to our stakeholders to see if they could support us in getting these extra things brought into the hospital,” said Good, noting the tree located in the hospital’s front lobby. “There are specific ornaments that have specific donation amounts — if you are able to donate $10, you get an ornament that’s a teddy bear. When we receive those donations we’re able to add those ornaments to the tree."
Funds raised this year will help purchase three replacement specialized eye stretchers for the cataract surgery program, which has performed over 6,600 surgeries since 1998. Cataract surgery helps restore vision and can greatly improve quality of life, said Good, adding this year’s site target is to complete over 650.
“We see the need in the community, and we see the impact that its making,” said Good, adding they have a minimum of three cataract surgery days a month and are looking to possibly expand that to four. “Bringing that in for our patients and our community members to be able to have their surgery so close to home has been unbelievable.”
Good pointed out the long wait times for cataract surgery in Alberta, “as something that the province and AHS is looking at to see how we can decrease those wait lists and those times.”
“So, we’ve stepped up as a site to say we can help with that, and we can potentially bring down those wait times. It’s really exciting for our site and for our community to be able to do this.”
While more than $25,000 was raised in last year’s campaign, said Good, they are mindful of the economic challenges facing so many this year.
“The community was so supportive and they really came through. We surpassed our goal, and we did really, really well,” said Good. “We also know that it’s been really difficult for a lot of community members this year as well, but we’d love to match that (amount) this year.”
Residents can purchase decorations created for $10, $20, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or $2,000, while $5,000 will light an angel on top of the tree.
“Every year that angel’s been lit and every year the community’s come through,” said Good. “We’ve had either a company or an organization step forward and we were able to light that angel. We’d love for somebody to come through and light that angel again.”
