Full Hearts

The annual Hearts for Healthcare Gala was held on Saturday with a room full of generous donors and sponsors. Money from the event will go towards a new ECG machine, as well as the doctor incentive program.

“Hearts for Healthcare is a local, charitable foundation. We raise money to update equipment in the hospital, as well, we do a physician incentive program to attract physicians to the area,” Theresa Nickel, Executive Director of Hearts for Healthcare said the gala is the biggest fundraising event that the foundation has each year.

For the last four years, Danny Hopper has acted as auctioneer for the event. He said it’s amazing to see the amount of support the community gives and the amount of work the committee puts into the event.

“It’s amazing to see the passion. There’s not many on the committee, five of them, and they pour their hearts and souls into this. It’s spectacular!”

Well over $30,000 was raised from the live auction alone.

It’s all possible thanks to amazing sponsors, said Nickel, “Cenovus is our biggest sponsor, they came in and gave $25,000.” Lakeland Credit Union, the Municipal District of Bonnyville and Imperial Oil gave $10,000 each and the City of Cold Lake and Canadian Natural gave $5,000.

There was a silent auction held throughout the evening, with totals still rolling in.

The packed house was also treated to the sweet sounds of sensational local band, Mid Life Crisis and G&C DJ Services.

There are eight Board of Directors that sit on the Hearts for Healthcare, in addition there are numerous volunteers that assist year round, as well as, to ensure the gala goes off well.