CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Auxiliary marked its 40th anniversary on Friday with a $40,000 donation.
The money is going to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation to help with the purchase of sight-saving eye surgery equipment, which is the focus of this year’s annual Friends for Life Campaign.
Dr. Ibrahim Elaraoud, ophthalmologist at the hospital, said the equipment will allow retinal repair surgeries to take place in P.E.I. for the first time.
Dorothy Johnston, president of the auxiliary, said it was about 40 years ago that the organization purchased eye equipment that helped launch the ophthalmology service at the hospital and allowed then newly trained Dr. Gerry O’Hanley to return home to start his career.
The auxiliary has helped raise more than $5.5 million for medical equipment in the past 40 years.
“Most of our revenue is from Lillibet’s Gift Shop and the Royal Pantry Eatery in the lobby of the hospital as well as successful special fundraisers over the years," Johnston said.
