Media Release

Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 Supports SIDNE

July 28th 2014

“Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 Supports SIDNE®”

North Battleford, SK – Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation is pleased to receive a $500 donation from Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 in support of “Prevents Makes Cents” campaign.  The “Prevents Makes Cents” campaign is a matching campaign to raise funds for the purchase of a Simulated Impaired Driving Experience® (SIDNE®) for BUH’s Emergency Department’s (ED) program to Prevent Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.).

“We are grateful for the annual support of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 and their contribution towards the “Prevents Makes Cents” campaign.  We know the Legion works hard to raise funds and give back to their community and we thank them for choosing BUH Foundation as a place to make a difference,” shares Claudette McGuire, BUH Foundation Executive Director.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 is a part of one of the largest community service organizations in Canada.  Their mission is to serve veterans, to promote remembrance and to serve their communities and their country with their ongoing contributions to veterans and their families, seniors, youth, and the community as a whole.  As a past supporter of BUH Foundation, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 contributions have helped to make a difference for all these groups and will continue to do so through the support of the “Prevents Makes Cents” campaign.

The “Prevents Makes Cents” campaign has a goal of $30,000 and all donations, up to $12,000, to the campaign will be matched by Bridges Chevrolet Buick GMC of North Battleford.  Bridges Chevrolet Buick GMC believes in supporting the P.A.R.T.Y. Program through the purchase of SIDNE® and helping to prevent youth from making risky choices that endanger themselves and others.

SIDNE® is a battery operated go-kart and will provide a hands-on, engaging lesson about the misuse and abuse of alcohol and other drugs and the dangers of distracted driving through a visual, hands-on experience with the P.A.R.T.Y. Program.  The P.A.R.T.Y. Program has been operating at BUH since 2009 and has had over 350 students take part, from The Battlefords and surrounding communities.  The Program is run in collaboration with the volunteer efforts of BUH, the RCMP and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the support of North Battleford Fire Department to promote injury prevention and enable youth to recognize risk, make informed choices, and identify potential consequences about activities and behaviours while driving.  The youth are brought to the hospital to see firsthand what happens in emergency and trauma situations with presentations from the RCMP on what happens when they are arrested, EMS showing on the scene accident care, and the ED demonstrating trauma care provided. 

If you would like further information on how you can be a part of “Prevents Makes Cents” campaign and help to enrich patient care within BUH please visit www.buhfoundation.com or call 306-446-6652.

(l-r) Sheila Stensrud, BUHF; Esther Delainey, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9; Claudette McGuire, BUHF; Vanessa Chafe, BUHF