Donors of all ages lit up the phones and lined the halls of RED FM’s Surrey station on Friday, Nov. 15 to support the station’s annual radiothon. The result was a total of $480,000 raised for Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Canadian Red Cross.
One of the largest one-day fundraisers in the country, this year’s event helped members of the South Asian community show their compassion and support for two important causes: the need for a specialized Stroke Unit locally at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the national response to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines led by the Canadian Red Cross. Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation will receive 80 per cent of the radiothon funds, and the Canadian Red Cross 20 per cent.
“RED FM and the members of our local South Asian community always inspire me with their passion for the causes they believe to be important for family and community,” said Surrey Memorial Hospital President Jane Adams. “The success of this year’s radiothon indicates how much they appreciate their local hospital and understand the importance of addressing stroke, a life-threatening health problem that’s more prevalent in adults of South Asian heritage. A big thank you to RED FM and to everyone who donated or volunteered.”
South Asian Broadcasting Corporation President Kulwinder Sanghera said RED FM experienced a high volume of donors making donations and pledges.
“RED FM is ‘by the community for the community.’ As a community, we have responded to two very important needs,” he said. “Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s philosophy was to share with the needy, and I am very happy to see that the community has given a huge gift in celebration of our Guru’s birthday. I am very grateful for the support shown by the community.”
“Typhoon Haiyan has devastated entire communities,” said Christopher Libby, Canadian Red Cross regional manager. "Thanks to our supporters like Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation, RED FM and their generous listeners, we're able to work with local groups in the Philippines to help meet people's basic, humanitarian needs."
If you haven’t had a chance to give, there’s still time to make your radiothon donation at www.smhfoundation.com/campaigns/redfm