Be An Angel tree on display in Totem Mall

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Be An Angel Tree was set up in the Totem Mall on Sunday, featuring ornaments from those who donated to Fort St. John Hospital Foundation in honour of a loved one.

Asuncion Sta. Maria, community giving and event coordinator with the foundation, said the mailouts for the ornaments went out on October 1st.

“Part of the mailout is a little card where the donors can put the name of their loved one in honour of or in memory of, and that’s what we hang in [the] tree,” Sta. Maria said.

She said the community is invited to come and see the tree as it is an excellent way to commemorate a loved one.

The tree will remain inside the mall until early January.

As part of the Be An Angel campaign, the foundation’s annual gala was held in November and raised $103,000.

The goal of the Be An Angel Campaign is to raise $350,000, with a portion of the money towards the foundation’s Greatest Needs Fund.

Sta. Maria also talked about how the hospital foundation partners with Moose FM each year for the 20th Annual Chances Casino Light a Moose radiothon. 

The fundraiser takes place from November 15th to 17th and will be broadcast live on location from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the parking lot of Chances Casino.

Sta. Maria said the goal for the radiothon is to raise a record-breaking $175,000 in 2023.

Funds raised through the radiothon will be allocated to purchase a Phillips Epiq Elite Ultrasound machine for the Fort St. John Hospital’s medical imaging department.

“Adding another ultrasound would ease up the burden, and patients get taken care of sooner,” Sta. Maria said.

Last year’s 19th annual Light a Moose radiothon raised $153,763.50 and passed the $1 million milestone.

Donations to the radiothon can be made now by calling 250-793-0998, online at Canada Helps’ website or in person with cash, debit or credit at Chances Casino, 11308 Alaska Road North, until November 17th during the radiothon.

The Community Roundup with Sta. Maria can be viewed below: