Islanders give record amount to IWK Telethon

For many Islanders and people all over the Maritimes, the IWK Health Centre has become a symbol of hope for families dealing with illness and other health-related issues.
This fact was never more apparent than when the 26th annual IWK Telethon for Children on CTV raised approximately $157,929 from P.E.I., an increase of about $7,000 over last year's total, marking the most ever donated by Islanders to the telethon over the weekend.
The P.E.I. total for this year was not the only record setter as the regional record for the Maritimes was also broken with an increase of over $10,000 from last year's total, reaching over $5.42 million.
The 24-hour telethon ran on CTV from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday and was broadcast live from the IWK Health Centre in Halifax as well as remote sites in Charlottetown, Saint John and Sydney.
The Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown served as the telethon site on P.E.I. and the event featured local entertainment, rides and many children's activities.
Also during the event, viewers heard the stories of many children like six-year-old Cole Robinson of Port Hill, P.E.I., who has a blood-clotting disorder and
relies on the IWK for assistance.
Lynn Anne Hogan, development officer for the IWK Foundation in P.E.I., said she was pleased with the effort by everyone involved and the fact this year marks a new record on P.E.I. for donations speaks for itself.
"I'm really proud to be part of a community who joins together to support such a cause as this," Hogan said.
The IWK has helped so many people and it shows how much the help is appreciated with the success of the telethon, Hogan said.
"It's really hard to find someone who doesn't know someone touched by the IWK."
Despite the rainy weather, everyone involved worked hard to make the telethon a success on P.E.I., Hogan said.
"They know why they're here and the good work they are doing. Not even the rain could stop us."
Robbie Shaw, president and CEO of the IWK Health Centre Foundation, said the foundation is thankful to the people across the Maritimes for their generous support as the IWK is caring for more patients, delivering more needed programs and embarking on more essential research than ever before.
"The IWK will continue to have enormous needs and absolutely every donation counts," Shaw said.
Donations made through this year's telethon will help purchase priority medical equipment, fund groundbreaking research efforts and support programs for patients and families.
Donations were made over the phone and online to purchase items such as incubators, SMART pumps and fund programs like Child Life, which helps children and youth cope with their circumstances through play.