The Canmore Hospital Ladies Auxilliary will host a New York-themed party at the end of October to celebrate its latest fundraising campaign.
The CHLA has sold out of raffle tickets for a weekend trip for two to New York, but are giving the community a chance to go to a Big Apple party when they announce the winner.
“The party is a fun fundraiser for the auxilliary and to draw the winner of the trip to New York,” said CHLA member Terri Harrison. “This was a wonderful fundraiser and it has been a success in selling tickets this summer.”
The $25 raffle tickets have raised $10,000 for the CHLA to purchase a cardiac ultrasound for the emergency room.
The party is being held next Sunday (Oct. 20) at 9 p.m. at the Drake Inn. Tickets are $10 and include a New York-themed cocktail and appetizers and those attending can also take part in a silent auction and 50/50 draw.
The fundraiser event adds another level of service the ladies have contributed to the Canmore Hospital since they began in 1978. Close to $900,000 has been raised in the nearly 35 years the group has been purchasing items for the hospital.
It all started with a $454 TV and has included raffles, teas, fashion shows, barbecues, a live TV auction, casinos and the everyday running of the Tuck Shop in the hospital lobby.
Each year the hospital provides the non-profit with a wishlist of items that would be nice to have and the ladies do everything they can to help make it a reality.
Dorothy Ford said the organization is also hoping to recruit new members from the community.
“We are getting older and we have lost a few members who have passed away or moved from town,” Ford said.
Harrison said the group would like to attract new members with new ideas to help raise money for the hospital. They meet once a month for an hour on the second Tuesday of the month and take a break during summer. She said it is a great way to give back to the community.
“We all need the hospital at some time,” she said. “It is not a big commitment of your time.
“Part of the reason I joined as a new member is I watched these ladies work so hard over the years.”
Those interested in joining should contact Harrison at 403-678-7691 or Ford at 403-678-6754. You can also follow the CHLA on Facebook.
