An astonishing $34,883 has been raised so far through the 6th annual CKNX Health Care Heroes Radiothon held on October 20, 2007

More donations are expected to arrive over the next week, which will bring the final total to well over $35,000!   The money donated to this campaign will go towards a new operating table for the Centre Grey hospital. 

This was the Centre Grey Health Services Foundations’ first year to participate in the Radiothon, which includes 13 other hospital foundations across the region.  Overall, this year’s Radiothon has raised over $700,800 to date for hospital equipment! 

For those not familiar with the Radiothon, it involves a full day of dedicated broadcasting by 101.7 “The One” and 920 AM, as well as extensive promotion by 94.5 “The Bull”.  The broadcasts featured numerous health-related interviews and reports from our region, and pledge lines were open to accept donations towards the hospital foundation of choice.

Many people graciously volunteered and helped out at the CKNX station in Wingham, answering the ringing telephones to accept donations and pledges that were made throughout the day.

The centerpiece of Centre Grey’s Radiothon campaign was “Family Fun Day”, held in Flesherton at Grey Highlands Secondary School.  Inclement weather didn’t faze people who came to enjoy a Chili Cook-Off, the Chris Neil Ball Hockey Tournament, a Children’s Activity Tent, horse drawn hay-rides, and indoor musical entertainment by The Black Family and by Ken Harrison and the Campfire Country Band.  Russ Richards, from 94.5 “The Bull” attended, taking in the various activities and phoning in reports to broadcast the event throughout the afternoon.

Family Fun Day wasn’t the only event taking place in support of Centre Grey in this year’s Radiothon. The “Great, Humongous, First-Ever Hospital Penny Drive” was a great success with students from Beavercrest, Dundalk Highpoint, Dundalk Proton, MacPhail, and Osprey Schools raising well over $2,000 and having a great time in the process.

Our campaign received a terrific launch from the Beaver Valley 180 Club, 26 hardy bicyclists who did a 180 km. charity ride from Oakville to the Beaver Valley Ski Club. This year’s activities ended with an all-day charity ride by the Dufferin Grey ATV Association. 

Our thanks go to everyone who participated in the Health Care Heroes Radiothon. We are especially grateful to CKNX for sponsoring the Radiothon and to a host of really wonderful volunteers, without whom none of this could have happened.

Radiothon Winners!

The Show Boat Award

1st place - Jamaican Me Hungry (Township of Georgian Bluffs)
Alan Barfoot, Dwight Burley, Carol Barfoot, Robert Lennox

2nd place - Smooth Operators (Centre Grey Hospital Staff)
Pam Matheson, Donna Nicholls, Mary Ralph, Ruth Johnson, Sue MacArthur, Debbie Yates, Mary Ralph

3rd place - Municipality of West Grey
Mayor Kevin Eccles, Bev Cutting, John Bell

The People's Choice Award

1st place - My Town Worth Talking About
Carol Marie Luxton, John Luxton, Marg Taylor, Tracey Leonard

2nd place -  Red Hot Chili Bankers, Scotia Bank
Patti Shaw, Lorna Mills, Terri Barlow, Mrs. Monk

3rd place - Markdale & Area Fire Department
Chief Ken MacArthur, Wendy Kresbz, Jason Hunter, Brian Parker

The Official Judges Award

1st place - West Grey Cowboys/Girls, Municipality of West Grey
Mayor Kevin Eccles, Bev Cutting, John Bell

2nd place - The "WOW" Experience, The Pickle Guy
Ken Bustin, Patrick Bustin, Stewart Halliday

3rd place - My Town Worth Talking About
Carol Marie Luxton, John Luxton, Marg Taylor, Tracey Leonard

Winners of the Chris Neil Ball Hockey Tournament

1st Place – The Hospital Hawks
Luke Meyers, Kyle Betts, Nate Ferris, Daniel Bureau, TJ Cando

2nd Place – The Cyclones
Braydon & Bryce Ottewell, Matthew Weber, Skylar Robertson, Brad & Tef Ferris

3rd Place – The Markdale Bulldogs
Jeffrey Taylor, Liam Greensides, Chase Loosemore, Jaden Hill, Brendon Knights, Adam Breedon, Frankie Smitherman

Winner of the Penny Drive (Overall School)
Osprey Central School