PICTON, March 6, 2025 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – One of Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital’s Care Champions has been selected as the recipient of this year’s “The County Guys Local Love Bursary.”

In a special presentation, The County Guys Real Estate Group and Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation presented a $2,500 bursary to Cody-Rae Fowler, a Cherry Valley resident who works as a Registered Practical Nurse in the Inpatient Unit as well as the Emergency and Endoscopy Departments at PECMH. Fowler is set to begin her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at Loyalist College while continuing her work at our County hospital.

The PECMH Foundation, in partnership with The County Guys Real Estate Group, created the bursary for Quinte Health employees who are pursuing education that enhances healthcare. The bursary targets those who are driven to help and heal others and are passionate about nurturing a healthy quality of life in Prince Edward County.

Fowler was chosen to be recognized for this bursary in recognition of her dedication to patient care, her positive influence on her colleagues, and her contributions to the hospital and the community.

In addition to her work as an RPN, Fowler operates Scrunchie & Go, a small business where she sews and sells hair scrunchies and dog bandanas. During COVID, she pivoted to sewing face masks, selling them for $3 each and donating the proceeds to the PECMH Foundation. To date, she has raised more than $5,000.

Fowler has worked with Quinte Health since 2022. She decided to pursue her BScN to widen her scope of practice. Fowler expects to graduate from her BScN in 2027 and is committed to continuing her nursing career at our County hospital.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive the County Guys Local Love Bursary,” said Fowler. “As I pursue my studies in nursing, this support brings me one step closer to contributing to the health and well-being of our community at PECMH. I love our hospital, and I am grateful to be able to grow my career here.”

“The County Guys Local Love Bursary Fund is a meaningful way to support our hospital’s Care Champions. By investing in their education costs, we can help these people achieve their goals and incentivize them to stay here and work in our community,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This bursary will open doors for our Care Champions to reach their full potential while helping us keep a great healthcare system in Prince Edward County. And the best part is that regardless of position, anyone working at our hospital can apply.”

“The County Guys are pleased to support and promote meaningful initiatives that recognize the people working in our hospital, like Cody-Rae,” said Aleks Ninkovic, founder of The County Guys. “We are inspired to assist those who want to advance their careers but may not necessarily have the means. It often comes down to financial incentives and people being able to afford their education. By helping to offset expenses incurred, we are helping change the direction of people’s lives.”

“It is incredible to see the benefits of these funds, both for the staff taking additional education programs, but also for the hospital’s patients and our community who will benefit from their added knowledge and skills,” said Dale Chapman, founder of The County Guys. “This bursary will allow Cody-Rae to upgrade her skills, while continuing to deliver the highest quality of care. We wish her the best as she works toward achieving her degree.”

Established in 2023, The County Guys Local Love Bursary Fund is available to any permanent part-time or full-time employee at Quinte Health, whose home site is PECMH.

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

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