Cookbook serves up important funds for hospital's cardiovascular division

THUNDER BAY – A new cookbook is serving up $12,600 to the region’s hospital.

The Cooking from the Heart cookbook, an initiative organized by Union Gas Customer Care, is in support of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Cardiovascular and Stroke Division.

"We have a very high incidence of cardiovascular disease in Northwestern Ontario," said Glenn Craig, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health and Sciences Centre. “So having quality care close to home really translates."

With all proceeds going toward equipment for the unit, the cardiologists will be able to form angiograms, an X-ray photograph of a blood vessel and angioplasties, a surgical fix of a blood vessel at the hospital.

In the past the hospital has had to send five to 600 people a year to Hamilton, Toronto or Ottawa to receive Cardiac Care, those individuals are now able to get the angioplasty done in Thunder Bay.

"The real winners are the patients and their families," he said.

"This is a great group of people who have really come together and worked as a team to produce an exceptional cookbook and raised a significant amount of money for our cardiac care,” he added, referring to everyone responsible for the cookbook and fundraiser.