An Abbotsford couple has made a $1 million donation to Abbotsford Regional Hospital (ARH) that will go a long way toward healthcare in the region.
James and Pamela Braun’s donation, made via the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation, will help establish the interventional radiology (IR) suite at the hospital, where doctors perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions.
The new IR suite will be able to give patients much-needed support during an incredibly difficult time, the foundation explained in an announcement about the donation. Interventional radiology procedures can be used as an alternative to more invasive surgeries and offer greater patient safety, less recovery time and shorter hospital stays.
Local philanthropy is important to the Brauns and their family, and James was recently a patient at ARH.
“We have been fortunate enough to give back and to teach our children to give as well,” James said. “You need to recognise that you can’t take the money with you. It’s kind of nice to give when you are alive.”
“We had an incentive to make this a priority,” he added. “We invest in a lot of places and the hospital is on the top.”
Elizabeth Harris, executive director for the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation, said they are all “absolutely overwhelmed and grateful” for the Brauns’ financial gift.
“We have a vast need for replacing old equipment, which has reached its end of life, and the IR suite was one of our high-priority items,” she said. “By investing in state-of-the-art equipment we are hoping to make a lasting impact on providing better healthcare for our growing community”.
The Brauns said they are driven by a Christian ethos of charitable giving and have strong family, community and spirituality values.
“Our kids will know how to give because of the values we instill today,” they said in the announcement, and doing unto others as you would have them do to you.
Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation relies on gifts from the community to strengthen its organization and provide an investment for our future health and wellness. To support projects like this one, contact Dr. Jassal at 778.552.5117 or email Lakhbir.Jassal@fraserhealth.ca.
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