The Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation and the Rotary Club of Cochrane have joined forces to raise the funds to purchase an ultrasound machine for the Cochrane Urgent Care Centre.
“This was identified as a number one health priority for our town (by Alberta Health and Wellness),” said Rotary Club past president Tom Wilk at the announcement service held at the Cochrane Legion Sept. 2.
The partnership will see the Rotary Club assisting the Kimmett Foundation’s seventh annual ‘Tournament of Aces’, which seeks to raise as close to $100,000 as possible at the popular Oct. 4 charity golf tourney at The Links of GlenEagles.
The Rotary Club will be selling the sponsorships for the tourney and offering manpower to assist the event; there are three levels of sponsorships available for purchase including ‘Hole’ ($500; two spots remaining), ‘Monumental’ ($1,000; seven spots remaining) and ‘Platinum’ ($2,500; three spots remaining).
There are around 70 golf spots still open for the tourney. Each year the tournament sees some 180 golfers swinging clubs in the name of charity.
Wilk said the Rotary Club, whose mandate as a service club is to enhance lives through community enrichment projects, has goals aligned perfectly with the Kimmett Foundation and that the partnership for the project is a huge win for the community.
The cost for the ultrasound machine is $140,000. The machine would be a one-time donation to the centre and Alberta Health Services (AHS) would be responsible for all operational costs.
Urgent Care already has a room dedicated to ultrasounds, but has not had the capitol to purchase the machine.
“This will make a huge difference to our community members, being able to access such a critical service within Cochrane instead of traveling to outlying communities such as Calgary or Canmore,” said Wilk.
Kelly Kimmett said that they hope to purchase the machine as soon as possible following the tourney, and that the Rotary Club has funds set aside to top up the remaining dollars needed for the purchase.
“The machine comes fully equipped — complete with all the probes and sterilization equipment,” said Kelly. “This is a great partnership between the foundation and the Rotary Club…it takes the pressure off our volunteers for the tournament.”
The Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation was birthed out of tragedy, when the Kimmett family of Cochrane lost their daughter on Feb. 17, 2008 to a senseless distracted driving accident.
Lindsay was an aspiring doctor (granted her doctorate by the University of Calgary following her untimely death) whose passion for children, science and sports has motivated her family and countless volunteers to carry on her legacy through major charitable endeavours. To date, the foundation has raised more than $1.3 million to go toward community projects in her honour.
To learn more about the Dr. Lindsay Kimmett Rotary Ultrasound Clinic Project or to inquire about sponsorships for the tourney, visit lindsaykimmett.org.
