By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter) with files from Lara Fominoff (@LaraFominoff on Twitter)

Taber & District Health Foundation hosting 24th annual Telethon on Nov. 1st

Oct 28, 2018 | 11:20 AM

TABER – One of the important fundraisers for medical services in Taber is taking place today (Nov 1) – the 24th annual Taber & District Health Foundation Telethon.

Organizers are asking residents in Southern Alberta to share in the experience of giving between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. live from the Heritage Inn.

Fundraising Coordinator Vicki Koersen says the telethon started because there were equipment purchases and capital projects that needed to be funded outside of the Alberta Health Service capabilities.

“Equipment purchases that people were looking for may not have been funded previously, so they wanted to be able to have that for our community. Not only for the hospital, but we also fundraise in that area for long-term support for lodges and manors.”

Some fo the items they are looking to acquire are anesthesia machines x 2 approximately $100,000 each; Bariatric commode chair $8000; a weigh scale with handrails and wheelchair capability; temporal thermometers; maternity-2 birthing balls, a peanut ball for use with epidurals; newborn size bili blanket (A bili blanket is a portable phototherapy device for the treatment of neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia).

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Typically, the telethon has done very well.

The community and district the have supported it wholeheartedly over the years, and last year the foundation raised $264,000 during the telethon.

They’re looking to raise around $150,000 this year.

This year it’s a brand-new year, and it’s a brand-new format according to Koersen.

“What ended up happening for is in the early spring, Shaw informed us they were no longer able to produce the telethon for us. So, for 24 years we’ve had that service given to us and supplied by Shaw, which we were very thankful for. However, this year, we are looking to live stream it off our Facebook page and also off of our website,” Koersen explained.

With that, they decided to change the date for the telethon because they’re also sponsored by the radio stations in Lethbridge.

“We’ve changed the format in that, instead of all live entertainment, we’ve pre-recorded the Cornfest entertainment and we have more interviews with staff, residents and donors.”

The live entertainment during the telethon will include Craig Nattrass, Pamela Harder, Klaas Hoekstra & Juliana, Dusty Litchfield, Romeo Rosalita, Angela Klemen and Kim Cawley.

All proceeds benefit health care in Taber and surrounding areas, and officials are looking at new equipment for the operating room, and smaller equipment purchases that may not be glamorous but are desperately needed at the hospital.

Anyone interested in making a pledge can call in at 403-223-2404, or in advance at the Taber Hospital.

More details can be found here.