Doughnuts to dollars: Bake sales help Russell pay for cancer centre

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This article was published 27/05/2023 (882 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It took eight years of bake sales, raffles, charity hockey games and knocking on doors to raise $1.8 million for a new cancer centre in Russell.

On Friday, community members celebrated at a sod-turning for the facility, which will be next to the hospital.

“Finally, after eight and a half years of steady fundraising, we’re at this stage,” said Gloria Tibbatts. “The whole committee is ecstatic that this is happening after raising $1.8 million.”

Tibbatts is co-chair of the Expanding Community Cancer Care committee, which is comprised of members from 15 communities and seven municipalities that surround Russell-Binscarth.

“We did this so that more people can receive cancer treatment closer to home without driving three hours or more,” she said.

When the committee first met in 2014, it had $50 and the goal of raising $2.5 million to renovate the chemotherapy unit at the Russell hospital.

Construction costs soared, pushing renovations out of reach, so the committee decided to focus on fundraising for a new building, said Tibbatts.

It raised $1.8 million, and in May 2022, the provincial government announced it would contribute the final $700,000.

The 2,300 square feet will include a nursing station and medication storage area, a dedicated patient washroom, waiting room, and improved patient privacy, which is vital, said Ken Borce, chief of clinical operations for CancerCare Manitoba, who made the trip from Winnipeg to Russell.

“Private spaces are important, because it’s not only about providing chemotherapy, but cancer is more than a physical disease,” said Borce. “The current space does not have room for psychosocial oncology counselling sessions. They are currently receiving it virtually.”

Psychosocial oncology counselling can help a patient and their loved ones with their psychological, emotional and social issues.

CancerCare Manitoba is the provincial cancer authority that sets the standard for treatment delivery and equipment at facilities across the province. Borce said it appears Russell has done everything right with its new facility.

“It was amazing. I was humbled to be with members of the community that raised those funds. I’m very optimistic for Manitobans and what Russell will provide,” Borce said.

The fundraising efforts will be a testament for years to come, said Brian Schoonbaert, chief executive officer of Prairie Mountain Health.

“It’s a ‘wow’ moment when a community of stakeholders does such significant fundraising for something they believe that’s needed and is needed.”

Construction of the new centre is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Prairie Mountain Health will pay the operating costs and staff salaries.

“There is going to be one additional staff person brought in, but we have sufficient staff now for that unit; they will be moving over,” said Schoonbaert.

— Brandon Sun