The Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation has rode past its $3-million fundraising push for a new CT scanner at the Grey Bruce Health Services’ hospital in Southampton.
Hundreds of cyclists were in Saugeen Shores on Sunday for Gran Fondo Lake Huron and organizers say the event raised a total of $400,700, which pushed the Bring Town to Town CT scanner campaign past its goal.
Bruce Power donated $100,000 to the Gran Fondo total, a maximum contribution the Tiverton nuclear operator vowed to make to match the efforts of riders in the event.
“A heartfelt thank you to all the riders who fundraised for this ride and to all of our sponsors who made it possible for us to put on this event; sponsorship support means that 100% of the funds raised by participants goes directly to the CT scanner campaign,” a statement from the hospital foundation says.
Last year, Grey Bruce Health Services received approval from Ontario Health on its proposal to purchase and install a CT scanner at the Southampton hospital.
The hospital currently has the space in its current medical imaging department to house a CT scanner, after undergoing a renovation and 10,000 square foot addition in 2019.
As of now, GBHS only has a CT scanner at the Owen Sound Regional Hospital. About 20 per cent of the 13,000 annual diagnostic images taken from the machine in Owen Sound are provided to patients from the Saugeen Shores area, according to information provided by Grey Bruce Health Services.