Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

TRU Day of Giving aims to raise $48,000 in 48 hours to ease financial burden on students

Mar 2, 2023 | 4:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — A stethoscope is a crucial piece of equipment for nursing students entering their first year of post-secondary education.

Just like textbooks, a student is on the hook to purchase one as part of a nursing kit before they start classes.

“We use the stethoscopes to listen to heart sounds and lung sounds. We use them for when we’re taking blood pressure. The blood pressure cuffs we use for blood pressure as well,” Tess Russell, a second-year TRU nursing student tells CFJC Today. “From the beginning, you’re using them every day.”

Until midnight on Friday (Mar. 3), Thompson Rivers University is raising funds to help offset the costs of those kits, as part of the Day of Giving Fundraiser.

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“We thought it would be really wonderful if the community came together and helped us provide a nursing kit for almost 200 students that we have in their first year,” said Kim Cassar Torreggiani, CEO of the TRU Foundation.

The goal is to raise $48,000 in 48 hours, all of which will go to help students in a variety of ways. Donors can choose to put their donations towards the health care students, the TRU Law Community Legal Clinic, the Williams Lake Campus or other scholarships and financial aid for students.

“If you don’t have a young adult in your family, you might not be aware of the costs,” said Cassar Torreggiani. “It’s definitely over $18,000 per student [per year] and depending on the faculty it can be quite a bit more when you’re looking at accommodation, food, textbooks, tuition. We really do try to support our students through fundraising.”

There are several ways to give, including online, over the phone and via text message, all of which can be found at tru.ca/givingday.

For Tess Russell, receiving that financial support from a member of the community can be validating — especially when the rigours of the nursing program seem like so much work.

“It definitely gives us that little bit of a push to continue going forward,” said Russell, “and confirmation that we’re doing the right thing and that the community is cheering us on.”