AMHERST – What once started as just a simple light display in front of the Cumberland County Regional Health Care centre has turned into one of their major fundraisers. The Light the Way ceremony will be held tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. at the hospital to help raise funds to purchase new equipment.
“We now do a special light up ceremony in the courtyard area, which is near the cafeteria and the café,” said Gwen Kerr, the managing director for the Cumberland Health Care Foundation. “Patients, their families, the staff and visitors can really enjoy sitting indoors and looking out over the display.”
The official light up event tomorrow night, Kerr said, is a way for the hospital to give back to the community. She said it’s a way for the hospital to thank the community for their support with their fundraisers with the special display.
The display itself is an outdoor display with all the proper holiday fixtures including trees, angels and even Rudolf.
“We also have snowmen and a fun little Snoopy display,” said Kerr.
When people donate to Light the Way, they are given the option of purchasing a light in honour of a loved one who has passed on, or to recognize someone special to them.
“Each colour light is a different price,” she said. “It’s $5 for a yellow light then, it goes to $10 for a white light, $20 for a red light, $50 for green, $100 for blue and after that there are ornaments and wreaths.”
A wreath can be purchased for $250 and a deer can be purchased for $500. There are also angels available for $1,000. For each light or fixture purchased in memory of a loved one, the name of the loved one and the person who donated are put into the program booklet that will be handed out during the festivities.
The night will feature some local entertainment as well as refreshments and fun activities such as face painting for children and the young at heart.
“The choir from E.B. Chandler will be here,” said Kerr. “There’s going to be about 60 children singing in that choir and they’ll be in the atrium when you first come in. We’re going to have the Amherst Regional High School Grade 10 band, and they’re going to be in the cafeteria. They’ll be providing some really nice Christmas music.”
Also coming out to the event will be the Amherst Ramblers hockey team.
This year with the help of the community, the hospital is looking to raise enough money to help purchase a laser for the ophthalmology department.
jturner@amherstdaily.com
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