CEDAR CITY – The Foundation of Valley View Medical Center raised well over $300,000 in 2013, setting a new record for a single year at since the cancer center campaign in 2006.
“In 2013 Valley View asked the Foundation for one of the largest fundraising goals ever of $250,000,” said Carolyn Rondthaler, chair of the Valley View Foundation Board.“The board eagerly accepted. Thanks to a very giving community and fantastic volunteers, we were able to not only reach the goal of $250,000, but surpass it with a net of over $300,000, and that’s $300,000 local dollars that stay local and will go a long way to save lives.”
The money raised this year was used to purchase a major CAT-scan upgrade to the linear accelerator inside Valley View Medical Cancer Center.
A linear accelerator, or LINAC, is used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer, and treats all parts of organs of the body. The upgrade is an onboard CAT-scan imaging system that allows the machine to be much more precise.
“Because of this upgrade we’re able to treat a greater variety of tumors,” said Amy Bleak, Valley View’s Infusion Center nurse manager. “Patients will rarely have to be referred to outside of Cedar City for their treatment options. And because the radiation beam can focus more precisely on the tumor with the real-time CAT-scan images upgrade, it’s helping to better spare healthy tissue and keep our patients even more healthy.”
Donations to the foundation came in all sizes, Roththaler said. The majority of it came in donations of $10, $20 and $50.
“Added all together it really made an impact,” she said. “We have a great and supportive community. Thank you to everyone who has made our hospital the best it can be.”
Submitted by: Valley View Medical Center
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Twitter: @STGnews
R-L: Valley View Medical Center Foundation development officer Michael France and Foundation Board Chair Carolyn Rondthaler standing next to the LINAC machine with the CAT-scan upgrade, made possible by local donations, Cedar City, Utah, December 2013 | Photo courtesy of Valley View Medical Center, St. George News