The act of cutting down a fresh Christmas tree recently yielded a gift of more than $29,000 for the Cobourg hospital.
The Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) Foundation announced that the ninth annual family Christmas fundraiser at Spry Family Christmas Tree Farm in Cobourg was a success.
The event held in early December generated $29,677 for the foundation’s “Light up a Life” campaign. More than 144 trees were sold and 100 per cent of the proceeds were donated to the cause, the NHH Foundation noted.
“This magical holiday tradition isn’t just about finding the perfect tree; it’s also a heartwarming demonstration of the community coming together to make a difference,” said Megan Fluxgold, NHH Foundation’s community engagement and events specialist, in a media release.
“Every dollar spent on these magnificent trees contributes directly to the well-being of our hospital. It was a triple win — the perfect tree, the joy of giving, and the knowledge that our annual Light up a Life campaign is truly supported by our community.”
The event was hosted by Sharron Wharram-Spry and Brian Spry at their Christmas tree farm on Danforth Road West, with proceeds raised through tree sales and by sponsors.
Returning sponsors included Baker Tilly, Wharram Tree Service Ltd., Cameco, Tim Hortons (Toronto Road and Highway 28 locations in Port Hope), Canada Candy Company, and Craft Food House, with Ley Hall Wealth Management, Cobourg Nissan, and Just in Time Sanitation joining as new sponsors.
A visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a complimentary chili lunch, hot chocolate, and coffee and treats around a bonfire were part of the day.
“NHH Foundation extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible — from the generous hosts, Sharron and Brian, to the many dedicated volunteers, returning and new attendees, and event sponsors,” states the media release.
“With the success of this year’s event, this annual tradition has now raised a spectacular sum of over $172,670 over its nine years in support of Light Up a Life.”
Proceeds from the 30th annual Light Up a Life campaign will support the purchase of an automatic tablet packager for the hospital’s pharmacy. The NHH Foundation said the device will “help streamline medication packaging and increase efficiency across all departments at NHH.”
First introduced in 1994, the Light Up a Life campaign has raised more than $3.7 million over the years. It has helped pay for various pieces of equipment such as surgical scopes, anaesthetic machines, hospital beds, and NHH’s MRI machine.
