Roughrider International and the Secord Family donate
$100,000 to the Gratitude Campaign's Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites

Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Northern Lights Health Foundation is excited to announce that Roughrider International and the Secord Family have joined the Gratitude Campaign  with a donation totaling $100,000. On Wednesday August 8, the Health Foundation and Roughrider will celebrate this significant gift with a cheque presentation at their Rickards Landing office. This donation will be reserved for the Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Suites project, which is the largest piece of the Gratitude Campaign.

The $7.6 million dollar MIS project will upgrade four of the current operating rooms in to state-of-the-art operating theatres that will help to attract highly skilled surgeons to the region and create an optimal operating environment for staff and patients. This technology will allow surgeons to be more precise and efficient in the surgical suite; these efficiencies could result in an additional 500 surgeries being performed every year, right here at home. In the past, large incisions were needed for many surgeries so surgeons could see – and reach – the areas being treated. Today, nearly every part of the body is reachable with minimally invasive surgery.

Roughrider International COO James Secord talks about why they have chosen to support the Gratitude Campaign:

A large part of the culture at Roughrider is driven by giving back to our community because a healthy community supports a healthy workforce and we all win when children are on track and adults are healthy and engaged. All of us at Roughrider are very proud to support the Northern Lights Health Foundation, helping our family, friends and community receive the first-class health care they deserve. We all live in Fort McMurray, our kids, grandkids live here. It is extremely important to invest in things that benefit this great community we call home.  We are blessed that we can support the MIS suites for the greater good of the Wood Buffalo region.

The Northern Lights Health Foundation Director of Development Lorna Ash can’t overstate how important it is to have companies like Roughrider International commit $50,000 to such a significant project and knows that Roughrider’s investment will benefit the entire region. Lorna says “Being able to provide the best health care possible requires true collaboration between government, business and industry, and the individuals of communities. Having the Secord Family make a matching personal donation of $50,000 to support local healthcare really shows their commitment to this community. She also says, “Over 3000 surgeries are performed at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre every year and we know this number will increase with the construction of the Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites. Roughrider International and the Secord Family will truly be making a difference and impacting patients every single day. We are so grateful for their generosity and support.”

About Roughrider International Ltd.

With a historic heritage in the region dating back to 1888, the Secord Family and the Roughrider Group of companies are proud to still be a family and strategically partnered with McKay Metis. Roughrider specializes in creating solutions and providing deliverables that go above and beyond client expectations all while building their business on safe, dependable and efficient service. As the Oil Sands industry has grown, Roughrider International Ltd. has strived to maintain the sound functioning of a traditional family business and its values that strengthen the fabric of our society.

About the Northern Lights Health Foundation

Established in 1985, the Northern Lights Health Foundation exists to provide funds to support health care priorities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The Health Foundation is proudly accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. For more information, visit www.northernlightshealthfoundation.ca .

 About The Gratitude Campaign

The Gratitude Campaign is the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of the Northern Lights Health Foundation. The Campaign is comprised of several projects including: Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites, the Multi-purpose Clinic, Palliative Care, Community Clinics, Health Centre Lobby, and Continuing Care. For more information, visit www.gratitudecampaign.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Lana Luchenski

Donor Relations Officer

Northern Lights Health Foundation

Tel: 780-788-1715  Email: lana.luchenski@ahs.ca