grateful for the continued support from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 in Picton.

On behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 Poppy Fund Committee, Diane Kennedy, president, and Tom McCaw, first vice president and poppy chairperson, presented members of the PECMHF with a gift of $7,000 on December 1, 2023. The funds were raised through the 2022 Poppy Fund campaign.

Nearly 10,000 X-ray images are taken at Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) annually. Because priority equipment purchases are not government-funded, Branch 78 has stepped forward to help ensure x-ray services remain close by in Prince Edward County, should veterans need them now or in the future.

“Our mission is to advance health care to our patients, and it is only through the support of our community that we can help ensure veterans receive the care they need and are treated with the respect they have earned,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Over the years, our four local Legion branches, Picton, Wellington, Consecon, and Deseronto, have contributed to exceptional care at PECMH. We are pleased to know their contributions and those of Provincial Command are helping ensure the best care for veterans and everyone in Prince Edward County.”

“We are especially grateful to the Poppy Fund Committee for this gift for the x-ray machine. Our doctors use it to provide the patients requiring the x-ray with proper diagnosis,” said Coull. “It’s vital for our community to continue to ensure our County hospital is equipped with the latest technology to keep our patients healthy. We are also proud to announce that, with this gift, Branch 78’s cumulative giving total to our hospital over the past 22 years has surpassed $34,500.”

Each November, we respectfully wear our poppies in tribute to those who have fought and died for our country, but many of us may not fully realize the direct impact these four-petaled flowers have on our community. While the primary purpose of the Poppy Fund is to assist former servicemen and women in need, a large portion of the funds raised in Prince Edward County help support charitable organizations in our community that provide service and care to veterans.

“Through your donations to the Poppy Fund, the Legion provides financial assistance and support to veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families who are in need,” said McCaw. “We are thankful to everyone who supports the poppy campaign and the Legion. Because of you, Branch 78 can help others living in this community, including patients at the hospital, have access to leading-edge diagnostic equipment.”

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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 Pictured in front of the PECM Hospital from left: Diane Kennedy, president of RCL Branch 78, Picton; Briar Boyce, senior development officer with PECMHF; and Tom McCaw, first vice president and poppy fund chairperson with RCL Branch 78.