THE 17th Annual Gurpurab Radiothon, held in support of Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s cardiac cath lab campaign, took place on Monday, November 27. It ran all day starting at 6 a.m.
This year, the community of listeners raised $1,000,013.13 to support cardiac healthcare at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
The Gurpurab Radiothon, hosted by Surrey’s 93.1 RED FM, is the most successful one-day radiothon where listeners support a hospital in Canada. It is held annually in celebration of the birthdate of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Founder of Sikhism and the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus. The Sikh community celebrates this occasion with their donations. This is the 14th time that radio listeners have supported Surrey Hospitals Foundation through the Gurpurab Radiothon.
To date, the community of listeners have now raised over $9.5 million in support of the Foundation and their various projects at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.
All proceeds from this year’s Radiothon will be directed towards the building and equipping of new cardiac catheterization labs at Surrey Memorial Hospital. With these new cath labs, Surrey Memorial Hospital’s interventional cardiologists will be able to diagnose and treat problems in heart and blood vessels before they cause larger issues, such as a heart attack or stroke. And in the case of a completely blocked coronary artery, urgent intervention in a cardiac cath lab could mean the difference between life and death.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Gurpurab Radiothon listeners for their ongoing support throughout the years,” says Harp Dhillon, Chair of the Board of Directors for Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “Each and every Gurpurab Radiothon is an exciting event that rallies the community together as an unstoppable force of good. The announcement of these cath labs by the provincial government is a big deal for all residents living south of the Fraser River, and we’d like to thank the Radiothon listeners and the community for supporting the cause.”
RED FM’s President and CEO, Kulwinder Sanghera, thanked all the donors for their generosity. “I am extremely grateful to each donor who either phoned or walked in to our studio to donate today. I have deep gratitude for RED FM listeners who always trust and support us whenever we launch an appeal for a community cause.”
“As Surrey is a fast-growing city, we need better healthcare to serve the diverse population,” Sanghera added. “South Asians reside in a large number in Surrey, and they are predisposed to heart conditions. That’s why we need Cardiac Cath Labs right here at Surrey Memorial Hospital. I am glad that the RED FM listeners and community at large are doing their part in helping bring Cardiac Cath Labs to SMH.”
Those wishing to support the Gurpurab Radiothon can still do so by donating by phone at 604-598-9311 or online at SurreyHospitalsFoundation.com/radiothon.
