PICTON, February 28, 2024 – Local maple producers are planning a sweet gesture of support for the campaign to build a new hospital in Prince Edward County (PEC).

Donations made at participating PEC March Maple Madness outlets, being held on weekends throughout March, will Back the Build for our new hospital in Prince Edward County!

This sweet embrace of support was inspired after maple syrup producers and local businesses met and agreed the hospital is near and dear to many of their hearts, including those of Brian and Jane Walt of Walt’s Sugar Shack in Consecon.

Brian and Jane have had occasion to use the services of our County hospital. Seven years ago, Jane had been feeling extremely tired and was falling. After two weeks of malaise, Jane visited Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH). It was determined she had suffered a stroke. Immediately, Jane was transferred to Belleville General Hospital where she spent a week recovering in the stroke clinic.

“It’s no secret that our hospital is amazing,” said Jane. “The staff are wonderful.”

Brian has also had to visit our County hospital’s Emergency Department occasionally. Most recently, he was treated for a burn on his hand after a fire broke out at his sugar shack last year. Dr. Amber Hayward-Stewart was his attending physician.

“It’s imperative to have a hospital close to home to stabilize and diagnose patients,” said Brian. “I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Hayward-Stewart, who tended to the burn on my hand. A year later, my hand has healed with barely any scars! Our family has always loved the hospital and the caregivers who work there, and we want to ensure that care remains accessible to everyone in The County. This is why we wanted to do something to invest in building our new hospital through collecting donations at the Maple Madness events.”

PEC March Maple Madness is an event to celebrate local businesses, sugar bushes, and everything maple.

Over 70 businesses are participating, each tasked with highlighting maple syrup as a tasty drink, menu item or whatever their minds can think of. This family-friendly event offers a chance to explore PEC in March and see the amazing things maple producers and businesses have to offer while collecting donations for the campaign for the new hospital.

“The fundraising efforts for the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be a little bit sweeter this March with this fundraising initiative on behalf of the March Maple Madness participants,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Our foundation is extremely grateful to the maple producers and the generous businesses collecting donations for Back the Build at their venues. We encourage everyone to get out this month, support our local business partners and help us raise awareness and funds for our new hospital campaign.”

Donation jars will be available at participating outlets, encouraging patrons to support Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s (PECMHF) Back the Build campaign.

Maple lovers can visit https://www.pecmarchmaplemadness.ca/ for a list of participating outlets.  

If you want to learn more about the Back the Build Campaign, please call 613-476-1008 ext. 4507. Information can also be found at https://www.pecmhf.ca/back-the-build.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the people of Prince Edward County and patients of the hospital. 

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