The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation is hosting a skate-a-thon with Mark Recchi to mark the end of his 365-day challenge to raise money for the intensive-care unit. The event is set for Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Interior Savings Centre. Tickets are $50 and include the skate, hot chocolate, lunch coupon and a swag bag; they're available by calling 374-5111.
Seniors get money for support programs
Seniors in Kamloops and Clearwater are getting support programs from provincial grant money.
Kamloops is getting $17,789 for a seniors fitness assessment, while Clearwater is receiving $17,670 for an age-friendly needs assessment.
The money comes from Age-Friendly B.C. grants used to help deal with the needs of seniors in the province.
Small hospitals get boost for emergency services
Several communities in the Interior are among those in B.C. getting money to help keep their local emergency rooms open.
The province announced Tuesday it is giving up to $200,000 in funding to 36 hospitals, including the following: 100 Mile House District General Hospital, Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital (Clearwater), Lillooet and District Hospital, Shuswap Lake General Hospital (Salmon Arm) and Cariboo Memorial Hospital and Health Centre (Williams Lake).
The money comes from $10 million announced by the B.C. Liberals last July to provide financial assistance for rural, fee-for-service physicians to provide access to emergency services at community hospitals.
The money can be used to hire more doctors, provide incentives for working weekends or holidays or nights, and to buy equipment.
