VANCOUVER DESI
In honour of the Nov. 6 birthday of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji — the founder of the Sikh faith — South Asian communities in both Surrey and Calgary have raised more than $1.6 million for local hospitals in a single day.
According to the Surrey Hospital & Outpatient Centre Foundation, ethnic radio station RED-FM hosted Gurupurab Radiothons in both Surrey and Calgary on Thursday, which saw a total of $725,000 going to Surrey Memorial Hospital and $869,000 go to Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre.
While the radiothon marked its inaugural year in Calgary, the fundraising event dates back to 2007 in Surrey.
“Every year, the Radiothon demonstrates how deeply this community cares for our hospital,” Surrey Hospital & Outpatient Centre Foundation president and CEO Jane Adams said in a release. “A big thank you to everyone who donated and kudos to RED-FM for sponsoring an event that enables the South Asian community to celebrate Guru Nanak’s birthday with giving hearts.”
The funds raised for Surrey Memorial Hospital will go toward its acute stroke unit, which will be named the Guru Ram Das Stroke Unit in the South Asian community’s honour.
“We all know someone who has suffered a stroke and we understand the importance of having a world-class stroke unit in Surrey,” said South Asian Broadcasting Corporation President, Kulwinder Sanghera. “Raising funds during the Gurupurab Radiothon has become an annual tradition for our community. I am humbled and touched by the generosity of our listeners. I have the deepest regard for the faith that people have shown in RED-FM.”
Donations to the Red-FM cause can still be made at www.championsforcare.com/radiothon
