Lloydminster Region Health Foundation CEO, Stephanie Munro, centre left, was pleased to receive a cheque for $12,015.12 from Cutter Poker Rally for Cancer representatives Ron MacDonald, Della Wist and Mike Sidoryk on Tuesday. Funds from the cutter rally usually go towards purchasing new equipment for the Lloydminster Hospital’s cancer ward, but this year’s funds are being used to start a professional development bursary for hospital staff. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
After 20 years of fundraising to better the care provided in the cancer ward of the Lloydminster Hospital, the Cutter Poker Rally for Cancer committee decided it was time to leave a different kind of legacy behind.
The rally has a storied tradition in the Border City that has touched the lives of many. Over the years, a total of $120,000 has been raised to support various projects in the cancer ward through the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF).
After this year’s rally raised a total of $12,015.12, the committee thought now was the time to start a professional development bursary to benefit staff at the Lloydminster Hospital.
“Our committee is trying to establish a legacy for the Poker Cutter Rally group,” said Mike Sidoryk, who just took over as chairman of the committee after long-time chairperson Della Wist retired from the position.
“To do that, we thought the perfect way would be to establish a bursary we can contribute to, and it will live for a long time and support the continued development of cancer care for the next 30-40 years, and we’re quite excited about that.”
With just over $12,000 raised this year, Sidoryk explained $10,000 was donated to the bursary and $2,000 was used to purchase a new blanket warmer in the cancer ward.
“We really feel the continued education to help our staff will be a long-living benefit to our entire community.”
LRHF CEO, Stephanie Munro, was thrilled with the donation as she knows how important professional development is.
“A heartfelt thank-you to Della, Mike, Ron and their entire committee for continuing to fund enhancements to the cancer ward right here in our community,” she said. “This year’s new bursary, which they are funding, is just amazing. It’s going to be a true benefit to the staff working at the chemo department in Lloydminster.
“They’re changing gears a little bit. Rather than funding equipment or actual tangible things, they’re leaning towards the start of a bursary and it will be called the Poker Cutter Rally for Cancer Professional Development Bursary, in which staff that are employed within our Lloydminster Hospital chemo department can actually apply for professional development funding.”
This being Wist’s last year as chair, she said she was pleased with the amount of money raised and noted the turnout was better than she anticipated.
“People stepped up and the donations for the silent auction were absolutely phenomenal,” she said.
