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SOURCE Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation
CALGARY, March 4, 2013 /CNW/ - The Alberta Children's Hospital will soon
be home to new pediatric pain and rehabilitation services, thanks to a
gift from local philanthropist, Clay Riddell and his family in the amount of $15 million - the largest donation ever made to the
Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. The gift, made in memory of Vi
Riddell who was a nurse at the Alberta Children's Hospital, will help
to create the Vi Riddell Children's Pain & Rehabilitation Centre.
"We are deeply humbled by such incredible generosity," said Saifa
Koonar, President and CEO of the Alberta Children's Hospital
Foundation. "This gift is so much about love - Vi's 30-year dedication
to children at our hospital, the Riddell family's love for Vi and their
desire to enhance her lasting legacy, and every family's wish for their
kids to be able to live to their fullest potential."
"This hospital and the children who need it always held a special place
in Vi's heart," said Clay Riddell. "My family and I truly hope this new
centre will find new ways to reduce the pain and disability that kids
experience so they can grow up to live happy and productive lives."
"This generous gift from the Riddell family will enable specialists at
the Alberta Children's Hospital to offer their expertise to even more
children who suffer from chronic pain and disability, so they can grow
up to become stronger as individuals and we can become stronger as a
community," said Premier Alison Redford.
"This gift is an important example of how our health care system and our
province are strengthened through partnerships," said Alberta Health
Services Board Chair, Stephen Lockwood. "The Alberta Children's
Hospital has a strong history of providing excellent rehabilitation and
pain services to children whose conditions are severe. The Riddell
family's tremendous donation will enable the hospital to expand those
services and provide enhanced care for children living with chronic
pain and mild to moderate disability, improving their outcomes over the
long term."
"This wonderful gift is going to help us take a quantum leap forward in
the care we provide," said Dr. Peter Farran, pediatric anesthesiologist
and pain medicine specialist at the Alberta Children's Hospital. "These
are children whose disability and pain have beaten them down and robbed
them of their courage. A new broader-based program will help them reach
potential they often don't even know they have, so they can achieve
their dreams, even if those dreams are simply to finish school, make
friends and be happy."
The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation raises funds for excellence
in child health, research and family centred care. Through the
generosity of donors, the Foundation provides funding for innovative
programs, state-of-the-art technology, advanced medical training and
internationally-recognized pediatric research.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible
for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than
3.8 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to
provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and
sustainable for all Albertans.
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