By Roger White

New Beginnings campaign pushes towards $8 million fundraising goal

Jun 25, 2018 | 2:00 PM

As the New Beginnings fundraising campaign enters the home stretch in its journey to raise $8 million dollars for the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford’s mental health facility, Fundraising Lead Corinne Bernier Delainey said she’s been overwhelmed with support.

The fundraising committee, established in May of 2016, was tasked with raising the large amount to help purchase furnishings and equipment for the facility, which is scheduled to open later this year. Their total currently sits at $6.6 million.

“I think we’ve done remarkably well,” Bernier Delainey said. “We knew it would be a struggle, as this is a provincial campaign, so it adds a degree of difficulty.”

Despite the challenges, she said it’s terrific that they have now reached the 85 per cent mark in the campaign.

“One thing I think is important to remember is that of that number, 95 per cent has been raised from outside of the Battlefords area,” she added.

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Bernier Delainey said no matter where the donations came from, the New Beginnings campaign is appreciative of the support. With the $8 million goal now within sight, she said the next few months will be exciting as many prospects are on the horizon.

“This whole campaign has been done primarily on peer-to-peer fundraising,” she said. “You basically find the right person at the right time to talk to the right donor, and so far it has been successful.”

Although the project has suffered several delays, Bernier Delainey said she remains optimistic that the new Saskatchewan Hospital will meet its target to open late this fall.

“You can never be one hundred per cent sure when it comes to construction,” she said, ”however, I feel quite confident that our patients will be spending Christmas in the new hospital.”

Bernier Delainey said her experience with the New Beginnings campaign has been inspiring.

“I’ve learned so much about mental health and mental healthcare,” she said. “Getting to know the staff and patients, as well as meeting people who have been through the Sask. Hospital who have received care and gone on and done remarkable things, has been heartwarming.”

Information on how to donate to the campaign can be found online.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW