Hospital Foundation alive with The Sound of Music and special guest Von Trapp child
Administrator | Jun 12, 2015 | Comments 0
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation has come alive with The Sound of Music and is inviting one of the Von Trapp children along.
The PECMH Foundation will host a special showing of the Sound of Music at Picton’s Regent Theatre Wednesday, June 24 to benefit the $350,000 LIFE SAVER Campaign for medical equipment currently under way at the hospital.
Heather Menzies Urich, who played the third child, Louisa von Trapp in the movie will be making a special appearance to answer questions and provide insight into the film during the screening.
“I’m really excited to be part of this 50th anniversary showing of The Sound of Music right here in my own community. I’m delighted to be supporting our County hospital,” said Menzies Urich.
Dr. Doug Cleminson. on behalf of the Endoscopy Department at PECMH. has stepped forward as the theatre sponsor while Joanne Coker and BMO Wealth Management – BMO Nesbitt Burns will be the media sponsor. The Waring House has stepped forward as door prize sponsor.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, The Sound of Music has delighted audiences around the world.
Menzies Urich, Canadian-born, is best known for her roles as Louisa von Trapp in 1965s The Sound of Music and again with Julie Andrews in the epic drama Hawaii as well as Jessica 6 in the TV series Logan’s Run.
Menzies Urich maintains her summer home here in the County which she shared for many years with her husband and their three children. Menzies Urich is the widow of Robert Urich who lost his battle with cancer in 2002.
Robert was a familiar sight in and around the County and was best known as an American film, television and stage actor and television producer over a 30-year career.
Before his death, the couple established the Robert and Heather Urich Fund for Sarcoma Research at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Menzies Urich, who also battled cancer, is an ovarian cancer survivor. Today, Menzies Urich focuses her efforts on the The Robert Urich Foundation for Cancer Research and Patient Care, a California based Foundation that she established after his death. For more information www.urichfoundation.org
More than $205,000 is needed to replace equipment for the hospital’s thriving day surgery program. The purchase of colonoscopes and gastroscopes for the detection of colorectal cancer and other life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) conditions will benefit the Endoscopy Unit, which operates five days a week. Currently, the scopes at PECMH are slated for replacement.
“We have a very active endoscopy program and you need the proper equipment to keep that going. The current equipment needs to be addressed if we are to sustain the day-to-day operations of our hospital, by providing the medical staff with the proper tools to serve our patients and provide the level of care they deserve and expect,” said Dr. Doug Cleminson.
“The generosity and support of our community never ceases to amaze me,” said Hazel Lloyst, director of development for the Foundation. “To have Delores Chalmers, a nurse in the Endoscopy Department, bring forward this wonderful idea as well as making contact with Heather Menzies Urich to be part of the program and having Heather say yes, just gives me goose bumps, the way everything has come together so quickly. The community support for our hospital is truly gratifying, especially in our 30th anniversary year.”
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 24th at the Regent Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m. with show time at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $20 each at Books & Company, Printcraft, Pierson’s Foodland in Wellington or at the PECMH Foundation office, 403 Main St. Picton, 613-476-1008 ext. 4425 or bboyce@qhc.on.ca
The Foundation Board of Directors has set an ambitious goal of raising $350,000.00 for this year’s fundraising initiative, the LIFE SAVER Campaign, with the funds going toward the purchase of priority equipment such as a chemical analyzer, blood analyzer, defibrillators, an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, scopes and vital signs monitors. The proceeds from the screening will go directly toward the campaign goal and is another way the PECMH Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
To make a donation or for more information on the LIFE SAVER Campaign, you can contact the Foundation at 613-476-1008 ext. 4425, drop by the hospital or donate securely online at www.pecmhf.ca
Filed Under: Arts & Culture • News from Everywhere Else
About the Author: