A Night of miracles for BC Children's Hospital

South-Asian gala raises over $70,000 for life-saving equipment

VANCOUVER , Oct. 29 /CNW/ - BC's South Asian community raised $78,606 toward the purchase of two life-saving heart-lung machines for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at BC Children's Hospital during the inaugural A Night of Miracles gala on October 24 .

"I am grateful for the generosity that BC's South Asian community has shown. The equipment to be purchased with funds raised at this event literally saves children's live," said Sue Carruthers , president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

More than 300 community and business leaders attended the event. The heart-lung, or ECMO, machines take over the function of a child's heart and lungs when they experience cardiac or respiratory failure, giving their young bodies time to heal.

During the event, emceed by Global National's Robin Gill , speakers paid tribute to the community for its long history of community service and support for child health.

The A Night of Miracles Gala Cabinet, which organized the event, comprises well-known members of BC's South Asian community, including event chair Robin Dhir, Atish Ram, Betty Hayer , Joti Samra, Kagial Hayer, Mandy Ram , Rupi Samra-Gynane, Rupeela Gill, Shawn Goyal and Vik Khanna. The event's Advisory Council members are Belle Puri , Dr. D. P. Goel , Herb Dhaliwal , Jack Uppal, Lucky Janda, Naeem (Nick) Noorani, Praveen Varshney, Ratana Stephens and Shushma Datt.

About BC Children's Hospital

BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service acute care hospital and serves the 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 72,000 children were treated at Children's Hospital. BC Children's Hospital Foundation received donations from more than 120,000 people last year and had revenues of over $61.3 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 further information: Aaron Sanderson, Philanthropy Coordinator, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]