B.C.’s South Asian community raised $78,606 toward the purchase of two life-saving heart-lung machines for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at B.C. Children’s Hospital during the inaugural A Night of Miracles gala.
“I am grateful for the generosity that B.C.’s South Asian community has shown. The equipment to be purchased with funds raised at this event literally saves children’s live,” said Sue Carruthers, president and CEO of B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation.
More than 300 community and business leaders attended the event on October 24.
The heart-lung, or ECMO, machines take over the function of a child’s heart and lungs when they experience cardiac or respiratory failure, giving their young bodies time to heal.
During the event, emceed by Global National’s Robin Gill, speakers paid tribute to the community for its long history of community service and support for child health.
The A Night of Miracles Gala Cabinet, which organized the event, comprises well-known members of B.C.’s South Asian community, including event chair Robin Dhir, Atish Ram, Betty Hayer, Joti Samra, Kagial Hayer, Mandy Ram, Rupi Samra-Gynane, Rupeela Gill, Shawn Goyal and Vik Khanna. The event’s Advisory Council members are Belle Puri, Dr. D. P. Goel, Herb Dhaliwal, Jack Uppal, Lucky Janda, Naeem (Nick) Noorani, Praveen Varshney, Ratana Stephens and Shushma Datt.
B.C. Children’s Hospital is the province’s only full-service acute care hospital and serves the one million children living in B.C. and the Yukon.
All children who are seriously ill or injured are referred to Children’s Hospital and are either treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with consultation from Children’s specialists, in their home community. Last year, more than 72,000 children were treated at Children’s Hospital. B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation received donations from more than 120,000 people last year and had revenues of over $61.3 million.