Over $100,000 raised for the 25th Bluey Day in Fort St John

• 

• 

• 

Donelda has her long hair shaved in support of her dear friend Samuel King, while he made his stand against cancer and receiving treatment.

This year’s event was an entertaining block party held at Centennial Park on May 25, where the community was invited down to show their support.

The highlight of the event was the participants of the community who shaved their heads in support of Bluey Day. Various activities were organized and had been set up around the park including a bouncy castle and free face painting for the kids, while Mr. Mikes Steakhouse hosted a charity barbecue.

$120,000 was raised collectively from the event, which had 30 registered participants and a total of 35 shavers. In the 25 years that this event has been held, over $2.3 million has been raised with over 900 participants in support of local cancer treatment and diagnostics according to organizers.

The money raised by this year’s Bluey Day will be used to purchase an MRI 18 Body Coil, which is expected to reduce the scan time in the FSJ Hospital’s Imaging Department by 25%. Additionally, this coil is an advanced piece of equipment that will enhance MRI’s improving patient care and improve the diagnosis of approximately 3,500 cases per year according to the FSJ Hospital Foundation.

According to the FSJ Hospital Foundation’s website, there are only two clinics in the Northeast providing  systemic therapy (e.g. chemotherapy), and the  Fort St. John Community Cancer Centre is one of them, with approximately 120 active treatment cases.

The fundraising from Bluey Day has helped the FSJ Hospital Foundation over the years to buy various small pieces of equipment such as a vein finder, heating pads, blanket warmers as well as some major equipment such as MRI Machine, CT Scanner upgrade and a Histo Tissue Processor.

For more local news subscribe to our website!