The Queen Charlotte hospital will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a birthday bash this Hospital Day.
The Hospital Day community fundraiser has been going since 1908, although organizer Fran Fowler isn't sure if there's been one every year since then.
This year, the fundraising theme for the June 18 event is Happy Birthday, and the money raised will pay for a defibrillator and training mannequin, as well as other equipment and a $1,000 scholarship, said Ms Fowler. All of this is equipment the Northern Health Authority would not normally pay for.
Some new events are planned for the day, Ms Fowler said. The Village of Masset will lend its Sumo Wrestling equipment for south islanders to try. Dr. Jamie Chrones has volunteered to shave his locks for the cause, and challenges others to join him. Two-on-two basketball has been organised by Kris Olsen. Sheila Wigmore is in charge of the decorated cake contest, and the high school students will bake 144 mini birthday cakes for kids to decorate and enjoy.
Old favourites like the wheelbarrow race, the community challenge and the auctions are planned as well, said Ms Fowler.
The big raffle item will be two tickets anywhere Air Canada Jazz flies in Canada, said Ms Fowler.
Hospital Day awards and NHA service awards will be handed out at lunchtime, said Ms Fowler, and the evening will round off with a salmon barbeque and dance.
For more information about hospital day, check out www.hospitalday.ca.