THUNDER BAY – After taking the past couple of years off, the Save a Heart Car Raffle is back.
Glenn Craig, president and CEO of the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Foundation, said over the years the draw has helped raise about $200,000. With the community on the hook for about $13 million of the expected $60-million cost to bring cardiac surgery to the city, the money is just as important, if not more important, than it ever was.
“Who doesn’t want to start the new year off with a brand new car in the driveway? It’s really a great prize,” Craig said.
The top prize in this year’s Save a Heart Car Raffle is a 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, valued at more than $35,000.
Second prize is a trip for two to anywhere that Porter Airlines flies, while the third-place prize is a Panasonic entertainment package, donated by the Power Centre.
The impact – and support – of the draw is phenomenal, Craig said.
“Every draw we seem to sell more and more tickets. We’ve probably raised close to $200,000 over the years with these draws and that money has gone in to buy the equipment for our cardiovascular program,” Craig said, “making sure that we have the right tools to put in the hands of our professionals to take care of our family and our friends.”
The vehicle was being donated by Thunder Bay Mitsubishi.
Jeff Witiluk, the general manager at the dealership, said they decided to bring back the Save a Heart Car Raffle for a number of reasons, the most important of which was a personal connection to cardiac care.
“This is a big thing for us. My dad had to have open heart surgery and we had to go away to Ottawa a few years ago. We went down for a few days and we weren’t able to stay with him for the whole time or go visit him every day,” Witiluk said.
“We think it’s something that’s important to have in the city of Thunder Bay.”
Having his father at home before, during and after surgery would have lifted a heavy weight off the entire family, he added.
“It would have been a huge relief,” Witiluk said. “Traveling alone is stressful, let alone traveling to go see someone who is kind of fighting for their life. Having (cardiac surgery) in the city of Thunder Bay would be an amazing thing.”
Meaghan Sharp, the director of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s cardiovascular and stroke program, knows first-hand the importance of having cardiovascular surgery done locally.
“I’ve actually had to have the service done in southern Ontario and I can tell you from a personal experience, the emotional experience that does have on yourself and on your family, not having those comfort connections to Thunder Bay – not even having my daughter present,” Sharp said.
Tickets are $20 each or three for $50 and are available at Thunder Bay Mitsubishi, Balmoral Park Acura, the foundation donation centre at the hospital, J&J Sports, the Porter Airlines counter at the Thunder Bay International Airport and the Power Centre. The draw will be held on Jan. 9.
