The Red Deer community came together and raised a sum of $30,000 to help establish a much-needed cardiovascular catheterization lab in their area. The grassroots group Time Is Life, which had advocated for local access to life-saving medical treatments for seven years, held its latest fundraising event on October 18. The event saw quite the turnout and showed how much the community wanted and needed this cath lab to be set up.

This is an important step for Central Alberta. The new cath lab will allow more local cardiac patients to receive treatment, which means fewer emergency transfers to other cities. The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation is working on fundraising plans for the space and will fund the capital for this project. The event was made possible with the help of main sponsors; the Healthy Heart Institute, the Donald Family, and Bo’s Bar & Stage.

The community event included live music and a Name That Tune game show element, pitting local cardiologists against one another. At this event, people were happy and surprised to hear that the much-needed cath lab would be fast-tracked, and temporary lab space is being set to be completed within 24 to 30 months. The money raised by the community will help in the development of the new life-saving facility. 

Time Is Life co-producer Harley Hay noted that the demand for a cath lab had only grown over the years, and it was exciting for Central Albertans to access procedures sooner. The organization planned to keep raising awareness and funding until the first angioplasty was performed at Red Deer Regional Hospital. Hay described the October 18 event as a huge success, highlighting the generosity of the community and the increasing awareness surrounding the issue and its potential to save lives.

Source: Red Deer Advocate