Radio For Radiation

RADIO FOR RADIATION RENEWS PLEDGE TO RVH

Larche Communications Inc. (LCI), parent company of KICX 106 and 104.1 The DOCK, announced today it will pledge an additional $500,000 to Royal Victoria Hospital in support of cancer patients throughout the region.

This latest pledge follows immediately on the heels of “Radio for Radiology” - a highly successful fundraising campaign in which the radio stations raised $500,000 to support the purchase of an Interventional Radiology machine.  The new campaign, known as “Radio for Radiation”, will help fund a computed tomography (CT) simulator suite for the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre, which will open at RVH in the spring of 2012.

"We were overwhelmed with the support received for our Radio for Radiology campaign and because we reached our goal well ahead of schedule, we've been encouraged by our listeners, advertisers and community partners to continue the campaign," says LCI president Paul Larche.  "We will continue with many of the fundraising initiatives developed for the radiology campaign, including radiothons, fundraising concerts at Casino Rama and partnerships with community groups and organizations.”

The CT simulator suite, which will be located in the cancer centre, is the first step in the radiation therapy planning process and allows the cancer team to “see” a patient’s internal structures like tissue, organs and bones.  This visualization helps determine the specific positioning of patients during radiation.  The images also assist healthcare professionals in developing an effective and individualized treatment plan for each patient. 

The CT simulator – the only one of its kind in the region -- will arrive at the end of November and RVH’s medical physics team will begin the comprehensive commissioning process in preparation for the opening of the Phase 1 Expansion Project.

“Larche Communications is a shining example of an organization that truly cares for the people of this region,” says Janice Skot, president and CEO, RVH.  “Radio station staff should be applauded for continuing their remarkable contribution to RVH’s expansion project and, specifically, to the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. Construction is almost 90 per cent complete and we are definitely in the homestretch thanks to this kind of outstanding support and belief in bringing cancer care closer to home for residents of Simcoe Muskoka.”

Larche’s latest pledge announcement was made at the hospital during a celebratory reception hosted by the RVH Foundation.  The new campaign is being kicked-off during Medical Radiation Technology week, which celebrates the critical role medical radiation technologists (MRT) play in the healthcare system.  MRTs provide professional imaging and radiation-related treatment services that allow patients to fully benefit from the latest medical diagnostic and treatment technologies. 

For information on how the public can become involved or donate to Radio for Radiation, please visit www.1041thedock.com or www.kicx106.com.