Moose Jaw Health Foundation executive director Kelly McElree turned on the giant Rockefeller tree in the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital lobby on Dec. 14 with the help of hospital staff.
The tree is named after the world-famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza in New York. It is 18 feet high and eight feet wide at the base, and takes a crew of workers two days to set up. It takes another day on top of that to decorate with several boxes-full of ornaments and nearly 3,000 LED lights.
Moose Jaw's Rockefeller tree goes on auction every year at the MJHF's Festival of Trees. For the eighth year in a row, Murray GM won that auction, paying $21,000 for the tree's naming rights.
Officially titled the "Light Up the Holidays Tree," Murray GM's sponsorship has now raised over $140,000 for equipment at the hospital.
"We're so thankful for Charles Vanden Broek at Murray GM for once again sponsoring the tree," McElree said. "Not only does it provide needed funds for the hospital, to help people in the community, it also brings bright smiles to patients and staff throughout the holiday season.
"We're just so thankful that there's such tremendous support at the Festival of Trees to make this possible."
"We're seeing a lot more patients than we ever have before," said Kiana Apperley, a registered nurse (RN) at the hospital. "The fundraising allows us to improve equipment and to improve patient quality of care. We can provide treatments that we weren't previously able to."
Lorlee Cole, also an RN at Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital, added that the lead-up to the Festival of Trees and the installation of the Rockfeller tree is always exciting for hospital staff.
"It's Christmas time," she said, "so everyone has a little bit of that Christmas cheer. It's exciting for the hospital, and then for fundraising to reach nearly $200,000 was exceptional."
Funds raised from the Festival of Trees 2022 will go to purchase laboratory and surgical equipment.
