Wellington Rotary pledge to purchase ventilator

bboyce • January 15, 2024

Wellington Rotary pledge to purchase ventilator for County's hospital

PICTON, January 15, 2024 – A local service club continues to support our County Hospital by pledging to fund an essential piece of equipment.

In another act of benevolence for the hospital, the Rotary Club of Wellington has entered into a commitment with the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) to fund the balance of the purchase of a transport ventilator needed in the Emergency Department at Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH).

In a presentation at the hospital, representatives from Wellington Rotary presented PECMHF with an initial installment of $16,040 towards the ventilator. These initial funds were raised over the past year through the club’s bottle recycling depot and the sale of Rotary-branded maple syrup.

Last June, the foundation received partial funding from the Stark Family Fund to purchase one ventilator. The Rotary Club of Wellington will fund the balance, approximately $22,000. One ventilator is estimated to cost over $56,000.

A ventilator is a machine that breathes for you or assists you if you can no longer breathe alone. They are often used in life support situations. Many medical conditions, such as pneumonia, COPD, brain injuries, and strokes, require the use of a ventilator.

“The foundation raises funds so our hospital can purcha[se essential equipment not covered by provincial health care funding. Having the right technology improves diagnosis and length of treatments, giving our Care Champions the tools they need to save lives,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Without community fundraising, our hospital would not have the financial means to purchase devices like this transport ventilator. We thank the Rotary Club of Wellington for their steadfast leadership, supporting our ongoing priority equipment needs and investing in our new hospital.”

“I speak on behalf of all Wellington Rotary members, saying that the community rallies behind our County hospital,” said Lyn McGowan, president of the Rotary Club of Wellington. “Wellington Rotary remains committed to keeping our hospital well-equipped for everyone in our community.”

The transport ventilator supports all patient populations, from neonates to adults. No matter where the patient is or where they need to go, this new ventilator will stay by their side, providing continuous support. They are the same ventilators used in the Intensive Care Unit at Quinte Health and the other regional hospitals. This standardization in equipment across Quinte Health improves patient care as medical professionals are trained on the same model used at all four hospitals.

“Having this transport ventilator allows Quinte Health’s staff timely access to equipment, particularly when a patient requires ventilation right away,” said Lisa Mowbray, hospital site lead and manager of patient services at PECMH. “These ventilators support all patient populations, from neonates to adults. No matter where the patient is or where they need to go, the ventilator will stay by their side, providing continuous support in the emergency department or any transport situation in or outside the hospital.”

Last year, Wellington Rotarians raised $26,008 to purchase an Echocardiogram (ECG) Machine needed in the Emergency Department at PECMH. In 2022, Rotary funded an Automated Endoscope Reprocessor (AER) for sterilizing colonoscopes and gastroscopes at $30,500. With that and the $409,500 raised for the Back the Build campaign for the new hospital, Wellington Rotary has raised over $560,000 for our County hospital over 12 years.

The Rotary Club of Wellington intends to continue to use donations from their bottle recycling depot toward the balance owed on the ventilator purchase. The bottle depot is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and is located at the old mill on Second Street in Wellington. In addition, Wellington Rotary is again partnering with Nyman Farms to produce Rotary-branded maple syrup this spring, with sales proceeds going to support the ventilator purchase.

The Rotary Club of Wellington will celebrate its 22nd anniversary in 2024. They are a vibrant club of approximately 40 members recognized as enthusiastic Prince Edward County community supporters. They can be counted on for both charity and volunteering service above self, locally and internationally.

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 at PECMH from left, back row: Roger Tessier, president-elect for the Rotary Club of Wellington; Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the PECMH Foundation; Phyo Kyi, chairperson of the Rotary Club of Wellington Charitable Foundation; Sally Cowan, Back the Build campaign cabinet member

Front row from left: Yvonne Buys, treasurer, Rotary Club of Wellington; Shannon Coull, executive director, PECMHF; and Lyn McGowan, president of the Rotary Club of Wellington

Photo: Trudy Brown

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The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is proud to recognize the generosity of Brandon and Hailey Pounder, co-owners of Pounder’s Pub & Patio, who hosted the first annual Pounder Polar Plunge on February 1. Held at Pounder’s Pub & Patio in Wellington, the event brought together community members, local hockey teams including the Wellington Dukes and County Royals, and spectators for a fun and meaningful day in support of local causes. Close to 40 participants took the plunge with a $20 entry fee, while attendees enjoyed a community BBQ donated by the County Royals. The event raised $1,000 for the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign and $1,000 for the Wellington Auxiliary Rescue Association (WARA), supporting both the future of healthcare in Prince Edward County and the vital work of WARA’s volunteer-run marine search and rescue team. “We are incredibly grateful to Brandon and Hailey for their creativity, community spirit, and commitment to making a difference,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Events like the Pounder Polar Plunge not only raise important funds but also build momentum and awareness for local initiatives that matter deeply.” “We started the Polar Plunge to give back to the community we grew up in and bring people together,” said Brandon Pounder, co-owner of Pounder's Pub & Patio. “The support from local teams and residents was incredible, and we’re excited to grow this into an annual event and continue supporting important local causes.” Over the past six years (2020–2025), Quinte Health has recorded 315 emergency department visits related to water incidents at its four hospitals—an average of approximately 53 visits per year across the region. PECMH alone sees an average of 11 such visits annually. “Even one drowning is one too many,” said David McFaul, WARA supervisor. “Water safety is something we can’t take for granted in our region, and it takes awareness, education, and strong community organizations to keep people safe. The Wellington Auxiliary Rescue Association plays a critical role in protecting residents and visitors on our waterways through their dedicated volunteer efforts.” WARA operates as part of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, responding to emergencies across West Lake and Lake Ontario. With a highly trained, all-volunteer crew, the organization plays a critical role in ensuring safety along approximately 125 kilometres of shoreline and 2,400 square kilometres of water. Its operations rely heavily on community support and fundraising efforts. The PECMH Foundation extends its sincere thanks to Brandon and Hailey of Pounder’s Pub & Patio and everyone who participated in or supported the inaugural Pounder Polar Plunge.