CHARLOTTETOWN – The 2019 QEH/Eastlink Telethon, broadcast live on Saturday and Sunday from Eastlink’s Stratford studio, raised $641,525 – an increase of over $109,000 from last year’s Telethon, and reached the funding goal of $1.5 million for the purchase of a new CT Scanner the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“Completing the funding for the new CT Scanner is an incredible accomplishment for P.E.I.”, says Ed Lawlor, QEH Foundation Board Chair. “We started this large project during our Friends for Life Campaign, and continued the efforts throughout Telethon weekend. We know this success will make an incredible impact on patients and their families.”
Lawlor added the most moving part of the weekend was the stories that Islanders shared.
“All weekend, during patient interviews and the phone calls, we heard how fortunate we are to have such a well-equipped hospital in our midst with such caring and compassionate staff.”
Gailyne MacPherson, Provincial Director of Diagnostic Imaging, is pleased to know the funds are now in place.
“The unique feature of the new state-of-the-art CT Scanner is that it has the capability to perform fluoroscopy that aid CT biopsies, a function which is not currently available on the Island. This will now be a provincial service available only at the QEH,” explains MacPherson. “This new technology also means there will be considerably less radiation during patient scans.”
Additional funds raised on the weekend also supported priority medical equipment for cancer treatment, nursing units, and many areas throughout the hospital. A highlight on Sunday afternoon was when members of the QEH Auxiliary arrived and donated $160,000 which will fund additional patient ceiling lifts in the nursing units.
This year’s telethon welcomed many first-time donations from organizations across the Island, including the Vernon River Lions Club, the Charlottetown Y’s Men, and the Holy Redeemer Knights of Columbus. As well, several businesses and groups from the Chinese community of PEI made donations, collectively presenting over $20,000.
A new fundraiser this year was the Village and Area Ceilidhs, raising $6,300, a milestone in giving that will be recognized on the QEH Foundation donor wall.
Also several children, who chose the QEH Foundation for donations in celebration of their birthdays throughout the year, raised over $1,600, and were recognized with a birthday cake.
Individuals volunteered their time as production crew and assistants, hosts and co-hosts, interviewers, performers, and telephone operators for the two-day, 18-hour event. There were performances by more than 40 artists who volunteered their time and talent, as well as 20 interviews with QEH grateful patients, medical specialists, volunteers, donors and hospital staff.
Eastlink Community TV has been providing the Telethon production and broadcast, as well as arranging the entertainment for 23 years. “The program improves each and every year and we are so proud of our continued partnership with the QEH Foundation,” says Bruce MacLean, Manager, Eastlink Community TV Programming for P.E.I.
It’s not too late to make a donation to the 2019 QEH/Eastlink Telethon. Call the QEH Foundation at (902) 894-2425, or go online at www.qehfoundation.pe.ca.
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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is PEI’s main referral hospital and Islanders can take comfort in knowing that the medical equipment and expert staff are here for us when we need them most. I know they were for me. 
