27th Annual Miracle Weekend Brings in $18 Million for BC's Kids

VANCOUVER, June 1, 2014 /CNW/ - BC Children's Hospital Foundation raised $18,036,788 for BC Children's Hospital during the 27^th annual Miracle Weekend, hosted by Global BC TV on May 31-June 1. Miracle Weekend events have raised over $224 million for the hospital since the first Miracle Weekend was held in 1988. Save-On-Foods was recognized as the largest Miracle Weekend contributor, bringing in $2.5 million. The 29^th annual ChildRun, also on June 1, set records for attendance and fundraising, with 6,200 participants and $1.1 million raised, with the support of the Wilson Family, ChildRun's presenting sponsor.

"Every year the donations we receive from across BC and the Yukon have a huge impact on the lives of children treated at BC Children's Hospital," said Raymond Li, BC Children's Hospital Miracle Weekend chair. "It's amazing to see so many individuals, communities and organizations rally to help our children."

Miracle Weekend is the culmination of fundraising efforts throughout the year by literally hundreds of diverse groups. Events include everything from school fundraisers to golf tournaments to black-tie galas. The hospital receives support from employee groups in financial services, retail, mining, technology, professional associations, construction and real estate, hospitality and restaurants, forestry and others, and members of Children's Hospital's employee family. Annual events, such as Jeans Day™, Slo-Pitch, ChildRun, and the 98.5 The OCEAN (Victoria) radiothon contributed to the total.

The 11-hour Miracle Weekend telethon was broadcast on Global BC – ending with the announcement of the total at 5:30 pm on Sunday. The Chinese-Canadian telethon and radiothon, airing on Fairchild TV, CHMB AM1320 and Fairchild Radio AM1470 on May 31, contributed $900,000 to the total. The retail sector, one of many industry groups participating, made the largest contribution from a business group in the 27-year history of Miracle Weekend: $6.3 million.

"People from across the province have given generously because they know how important it is to have access to the care and research that only BC Children's Hospital can provide," said Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. "When a child is sick or injured it affects entire communities and, once again, BC's communities have shown they care."

Donations to the Miracle Weekend are used to support the purchase of life-saving equipment, research into the treatment, prevention and cure of childhood diseases, recruitment and educational programs for caregivers, and programs in communities throughout the province.

About BC Children's Hospital
BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service acute-care hospital dedicated to serving close to one million children living in BC and the Yukon. All children who are seriously ill or injured are referred to Children's Hospital and are either treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with consultation from Children's specialists, in their home community. Last year, more than 85,000 children were treated at Children's Hospital. In 2013-14 BC Children's Hospital Foundation received donations from more than 118,000 people and had revenues of $92.2 million. Funds raised by the foundation are used to support BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute. For more information visit www.bcchf.ca and follow @BCCHF on Twitter.

SOURCE: BC Children's Hospital Foundation

Stephen Forgacs, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, Mobile: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]