Current Campaigns

Our Best to You - 2022 Holiday Appeal

One of the biggest changes in the delivery of patient care is underway at Ross Memorial right now. It’s a digital transformation that connects bedside medical equipment and life-saving technology to patients’ medical records, and connects those digital records to care providers and patients — wherever they are.

The RMH Foundation is grateful to Hospitalist Dr. Sara-Lynn Francis for highlighting the value of the Hospital’s new clinical information system in her Holiday Appeal letter that is being delivered throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“Patients’ complex care requires many vital steps,” said Dr. Francis. “It might mean lab work, imaging scans, procedures or consultations with specialists. I also reach out to family physicians, pharmacists, regional partners, and patient families to ensure each person’s care is safe and effective. Fortunately, I have a great team around me. And thanks to donors, the Ross is implementing the best resources and technology to help us care for you better and faster than ever before. This includes the new clinical information system … Simply put, it connects everything we need to care for you.”

As a Hospitalist, it’s critical for Dr. Francis to have timely connections to the people and the tools that inform her clinical decisions,” said Erin Coons, RMH Foundation CEO. “The new clinical information system marks an evolutionary leap in patient care at the Ross, but it’s not covered by provincial funding. We hope people will watch for Dr. Francis’ letter and support this transformational technology with a donation.”

“As our community grows, it’s up to all of us to make sure our local Hospital modernizes to meet patients’ changing needs,” said Ryan O’Neill, RMH Foundation Board Chair. “The new clinical information system is the building block that will enable information sharing throughout the health system, ensuring the best care for every patient. It’s an exciting advancement, and one the entire community can support and celebrate.”

View or download the 2022 Holiday Appeal letter

Make an Online Donation

Every picture Tells a Story - 2022 Spring Appeal

There are moments from Kate Winn’s breast cancer experience that she will never forget. Thanks to the exceptional care she received at the Ross Memorial Hospital, including an MRI to guide her surgery, Kate is cancer free.

“As a teacher, I know that the best stories are the ones with the most colourful detail. As a cancer survivor, I have no doubt: the more details our doctors have, the better our stories end,” said Kate Winn. “With cancer behind me, I can picture a healthier future ahead. And by donating funds for the community’s new MRI, we can all make sure our community hospital continues to offer the best care possible.”

MRI was among the technology that helped to pinpoint Kate’s tumour and ensure there were no others. When Kate learned that the community’s aging MRI must be replaced and that government funding doesn’t cover the cost, she wanted to help fundraise the $2.5 million cost of the MRI and encourage others to give, too.

Kate’s experience is featured in the Every Picture Tells A Story spring appeal letter, which is being mailed throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes. The letter includes an expert testimonial from Dr. Mario Voros, Ross Memorial’s Chief of Radiology.

“I want to thank the donors who keep the Ross at the forefront of exceptional care with support for essential acquisitions like our community’s MRI,” said Dr. Voros. “Better imaging helps us detect problems earlier, treat patients sooner, and improve your outcomes. Your support for MRI has a far-reaching impact.”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging helps physicians confidently diagnose disease and injury in the brain, spine, joints, breasts and organs. It’s a vital tool for detecting herniated or bulging disks, arthritic changes, and cancer. More than 500 patient exams are scanned at the Ross every month.

“It’s been just over a decade that local donors funded our community’s MRI, changing the nature of patient care at the Ross, and reducing the need for patients to travel to other areas for imaging. That might not feel like a long time, but it’s already impossible to imagine our hospital care without access to MRI technology,” said Ryan O’Neill, RMH Foundation Board Chair. “By giving together, we can ensure our hospital has vital equipment it needs, not otherwise funded by the government.”

View or download the 2022 Spring Appeal letter

Make an Online Donation

Make This Your Moment - 2021 Holiday Appeal

Exactly one year ago, Kate Winn was diagnosed with breast cancer. That news set in motion what Kate calls her cancer story. Thanks to her early diagnosis and timely care at the Ross, Kate’s story has a happy ending. This holiday season, Kate is sharing her story to help others when they need it most.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is among the technology that helped to pinpoint Kate’s tumour and ensure there were no others. When Kate learned that the ten-year-old MRI must be replaced and that government funding doesn’t cover the cost, she was quick to offer her help by sharing her story through the RMH Foundation’s Holiday Appeal. 

“I’m so incredibly grateful. Grateful for the care I received, for the support of my family, friends and community, for my good outcome … and for the chance to pay it forward,” said Kate Winn. “Just as it took a broad healthcare team to help me beat cancer, it takes all of us to ensure the best care is available at our local hospital. It’s only with the generous support of donors that our hospital team has the medical equipment and advanced technology it needs to diagnose and treat patients.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to Kate for helping to highlight this important community need,” said Erin Coons, RMH Foundation CEO. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging helps physicians confidently diagnose disease and injury in the brain, spine, joints, breasts and organs. It’s a vital tool for detecting herniated or bulging disks, arthritic changes, tumours and other lesions. More than 500 patient exams are scanned at the Ross every month.” 

“MRI is a diagnostic tool our community simply can’t do without. The provincial government doesn’t fund the cost to replace medical equipment such as this, so it’s up to us to make it happen,” said Ryan O’Neill, RMH Foundation Board Chair. “We hope everyone will watch the mail for Kate’s letter, and make this your moment to keep the best care close to home.” 

View or download the 2021 Holiday Appeal letter

Make an Online Donation

Partners in Precision Care - 2021 Spring Appeal

Exactly 20 years ago, local health care was transformed with the acquisition of the community’s first CT Scanner.

Today, donors continue to be Partners in Precision Care

CT imaging is a critical tool for diagnosing injuries and disease, and for guiding surgeries and cancer treatments. However, the pace of scientific advancements and constant use are a challenge. This is not a cost the hospital receives government funding to cover. It’s up to us as a community to keep the best CT imaging here at the Ross.

“As a general surgeon, I am keenly aware of how important it is for patients to get CT scans as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Jamie McNabb.

Dr. McNabb is partnering with the RMH Foundation to highlight the urgent need for a new, state-of-the-art CT scanner for the community. Dr. McNabb joined the Ross Memorial’s team of surgeons in 2001, the same year the hospital launched CT imaging services.

You can be a Partner in Precision Care. General Surgeon Dr. Jamie McNabb invites all CKL residents — permanent, seasonal and newcomers — to support this high-priority need.

View or download the 2021 Spring Appeal letter

Make an online donation

Brighter Tomorrows - 2020 Holiday Appeal

The past months have been challenging with the world in a state of constant change. What hasn’t changed is the community’s need for timely health care: to locate internal bleeding, to map blood flow to the brain, to diagnose blood clots. These patients need careful medical treatment to give them their best chance at recovery – and they need access to precision CT imaging.

With the help of the RMH Chief of Radiology, Dr. Mario Voros, the RMH Foundation is launching the Brighter Tomorrows holiday appeal to help replace the community’s CT scanner.

“I’ve been a Radiologist at the Ross for 15 years now, and I call the hospital’s CT scanner ‘the workhorse’ of the Diagnostic Imaging department,” said Dr. Voros. “It’s one of our most vital pieces of hospital equipment and provides life-saving support to the Emergency department day and night.”

Computerized Tomography scanning combines a series of images taken from various angles to create cross-sectional views of a patient’s bones, blood vessels and soft tissues. Our CT scanner allows radiologists such as Dr. Voros to confidently diagnose disease and injuries, to provide precise direction for surgeries, and to guide cancer treatments.

At the Ross, the CT team conducts more than 12,000 scans every year. The scanner is in almost constant use. After ten years, however, the CT scanner is reaching the end of its useful lifespan. “It’s imperative that we replace it immediately,” said Dr. Voros.

“It was community donors that made it possible to buy the first CT scanner 20 years ago, and the second CT scanner 10 years ago,” said Erin Coons, RMH Foundation CEO. “We’re asking for your help once again. The CT scanner is vitally important to our patients’ timely diagnosis and treatment. We hope people will support this appeal and help the hospital replace our community’s aging CT scanner with new technology that can produce high quality images and more accurate data, faster and with a lower dose of radiation.”

“We all look forward to brighter tomorrows,” said Heather Richardson, RMH Foundation Board Chair. “Please watch your mailbox for Dr. Voros’ letter or visit the Foundation’s website to give online. By working together, we can ensure our hospital is equipped with the tools that help give patients their best chance at recovery.”

View or download the 2020 Holiday Appeal letter

Make an online donation.

Heroes at Heart

In the last few months, our lives have changed. What hasn’t changed is the way our community feels about its healthcare system. In fact, we appreciate it more than ever.

The Ross Team is grateful for your support. In fact, they couldn’t provide exceptional care without it. With no government funding to purchase life-saving medical equipment and technology, the Ross Memorial Hospital has always depended on the generosity of its donor community.

“From my years working at the Ross Memorial Hospital, I know the need to acquire and replace vital medical equipment is constant,” said Dr. Jeremy Jones, RMH General Internist. “The need is even greater at this difficult time to give our patients the care they require.”

The RMH Foundation is grateful for Dr. Jones’ help as it launches the 2020 Spring Appeal. Dr. Jones has penned a letter seeking donor support for the Heroes at Heart Appeal. The letter will be delivered throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes in the coming weeks.

The Heroes at Heart Appeal will help fund urgent COVID-related equipment and technology needs at RMH, and buy seven new electrocardiography machines (ECGs).

“The sooner we see a patient’s ECG results, the faster we can diagnose the issue and begin to treat it … heart attacks and arrhythmia, even problems that aren’t heart-related, like lung disease and kidney failure,” said Dr. Jones. “This is vital information for patients of all ages. ECG machines help us save lives.”

“We’ve been so touched by the outpouring of emotional support in recent weeks,” said Erin Coons, RMH Foundation CEO. “We hope people will watch for Dr. Jones’ letter in the mail, and extend their support for the Ross Team with a donation during these difficult times. Donors are heroes at heart.”

View or download the 2020 Heroes at Heart appeal letter