Image Credit: CFJC Today / Chad Harris

By Dylana Milobar

CARDIAC CARE IMPROVEMENTS

11th annual ICCHA/Wish Fund Gala boosts cardiac care for Kamloops

May 26, 2019 | 3:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops became one step closer to improved cardiac care, after the sold-out ICCHA / Wish Fund Gala over the weekend.

Founder Al Patel says the final donation count is not done yet, but the hefty amount raised will go towards their goal of $1 million.

“I can tell you that we raised over $100,000 on Friday (May 24),” He says, “So this is a journey for the next project, and the projects that are going to come.”

The money will go towards bringing a Catheterization Lab for the under construction Cardiac Care Unit at Royal Inland Hospital.

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Patel says a Cath Lab would be a positive solution to having cardiac patients taken to Kelowna for treatment and testing.

“Over 800 people is the average number of people that go to Kelowna every year.” He says, “This is not acceptable.”

At the 11th annual Gala Friday evening, ICCHA Wish Foundation also announced that they are going to be giving Royal Inland Hospital a C-arm.

The piece of equipment is portable, and Patel says it can help doctors look after cardiac patients more efficiently.

“For the past ten years, we have been giving every department of Royal Inland Hospital equipment that was not there,” Patel explains, “State of the art equipment, brought by $1.2 million of giving (so far).”

Patel says along with raising funds, they have been approaching Interior Health, local MLA’s, and BC’s Health Minister to support their efforts in bringing a Cath Lab to Kamloops.

“We want them to understand that our people matter, and our people care. And that is why our gala has been sold out every year.”

Recently, Patel says the foundation has been gathering stories of people who have experienced heart health issues, or known people who have for their magazine.

Those stories can be sent to iwishfund@gmail.com.