The 12th annual Starlite Campaign was kicked off with a very successful Spin-A-Thon at Kootenay Life Cycle, where 96 participants and eight instructors rode for a cause and collectively raised an amazing $28,500.

All of the proceeds will go towards the 2019 Starlite Campaign for the East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH).

EKFH Executive Director Brenna Baker commented, “It was an incredible day of community! Everyone came together to raise an amazing amount of funds that will go towards the SPECT CT at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. This day was made possible because of the awesome team at Kootenay Life Cycle, Hot Shots Cafe, Stoke Juice, Sidekick Stickers, and the Fire Hall Kitchen & Tap. We really do live in the best community!”

This year’s Starlite Campaign will be focused on raising funds for the SPECT CT. The EKFH is raising $1.2 million to bring this advanced diagnostic equipment to the East Kootenay Region. Dr. Curtis Mohamed, MD Nuclear Medicine, explained the “SPECT CT (pictured right) combines the three-dimensional functional imaging of nuclear medicine with the anatomical accuracy of CT. The merging of these modalities creates an advanced imaging technology that improves patient care by enhancing diagnostic accuracy.”

Many medical conditions can be assessed by SPECT CT including (but not limited to) staging and monitoring treatment in multiple forms of cancer; determining the extent of infection and monitoring therapy, and site-specific processes such as lung clots, kidney function, heart disease and bone fractures.

The SPECT CT will provide faster, more definitive diagnosis of medical conditions. For patients, it will reduce the anxiety of waiting for a full diagnosis and the commencement of treatment, reducing time, money, travel expenses and stress.

The East Kootenay Regional Hospital is the only regional hospital in B.C. that doesn’t have a SPECT CT.

The goal of Starlite is to light up all of the stars on top of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. For every $2,500 a small star will be lit and for every $5,000 a large star will be lit.

To help, please make a holiday gift to the EKFH, purchase a star and light the way to help the East Kootenay region become a leader in health care.

Spread the word, donate and become a champion for health care. To donate please visit ekfh.ca or call 250-489-6481.

Lead image: Dr. Curtis Mohamed, MD Nuclear Medicine, and Sjaane Beattie, RTNM Nuclear Medicine – Honourary Chairs of the SPECT CT Campaign. Photos submitted

EKFH

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