SMP students hit the links in support of Kelowna Hospital Auxiliary

SMP student Jim Huang presents a cheque to Doug Rankmore, CEO, KGH Foundation and Beth Cole-Jackson, President, Kelowna Hospital Auxiliary.

Second-year SMP student Jim Huang was the ‘driving’ force behind a fundraiser early this year that raised $1,000 for the Kelowna Hospital Auxiliary. Local physicians, SMP students, faculty, and staff took part in the golf/dinner fundraiser including Dr. Allan Jones, Regional Associate Dean and Dr. Robert Halpenny, CEO for the Interior Health Authority. The event was held this past September at the Quail course at the Okanagan Golf Club.

Huang saw the golf fundraiser as an opportunity for SMP students to interact with the local medical community while raising some funds for a worthy cause. “The Kelowna Hospital Auxiliary was chosen because of its support for the hospital and I thought it was important for the students here to be involved in the local medical community,” said Huang. “Hopefully, this is only one avenue by which the SMP students can impact the community.”

The Kelowna Hospital Auxiliary is one of five local auxiliaries that work under the Kelowna Hospital Foundation that provides financial assistance to help purchase medical equipment, furnishings and services. Funds are raised primarily through the operations of the Perking Lot, The General’s Snackery, and The Centennial Mercantile which are run entirely by volunteers. To date, the Auxiliary has raised approximately $10M and the number continues to grow.

“The task of organizing this type of event, single handedly by a 2nd year medical student, all for the benefit of a whole community, is truly honourable,” said Beth Cole-Jackson, President of the KGH Auxiliary.

Plans are underway to expand the fundraiser for the next edition slated for the fall of 2013. With the arrival of 32 new SMP students each year, it expected many will help take on the event and ensure it become an annual tradition for the program.