VANCOUVER, Sept. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - This Wednesday, September 17th the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund will proudly break ground on the monumental Burn Fund Centre project. You are invited to come and meet our provinces' fire fighters and enjoy the official ceremony starting promptly at 10am – 11:30am. The Centre will be built at 3891 Main Street, directly on the corner of West 23rd and Main Street, Vancouver, B.C.
The Burn Fund Centre will provide 8 short-term stay, free of charge, furnished accommodation suites with communal great room; library; outdoor spaces and family kitchen. Answering a critical unmet need, the Centre will be a home away from home for British Columbians needing to travel to Vancouver under emergency circumstances for medical treatment due to burn and major trauma injuries; patients in hospital discharge transition; or returning for follow up treatment. The Centre will also continue to offer its current Burn & Safety Awareness Education and Survivor Programs & Resources. The street level retail component will help sustain the ongoing operation of the Centre. Construction will begin this Fall.
To date, twenty-seven professional Fire Fighter Locals from across the province have proudly contributed a total of $1.3 million dollars to assist with the $13.1 million project.
"Providing accommodation for burn and trauma survivors and their families can be one of the most significant contributions to assist survivors physically and emotionally recover and live a full life", says Mike Hurley, President of the Burn Fund. "We're determined to give survivors in British Columbia the best chance at recovery with this new home-away-from-home."
"We're very grateful that the Fire Fighters of our province have shown such leadership in helping us meet this critical need – they've raised money through a combination of community fundraisers along with personal payroll deductions."
The province is experiencing a critical shortfall in accommodation for burn and trauma patients and their family caregivers. Patients' health may be compromised when they have to return home sooner than medically advised or live in accommodations not suited to recovery from a burn or trauma injury.
Each year almost 700 children and adults from across the province are admitted to the BCPFF Burn, Plastics and Trauma Unit at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children's Hospital suffering serious trauma.
Cases from outside the Lower Mainland make up 27% of the stats, and 60% of those are paying for private sector accommodation for an average of eight weeks.
Over 85% of the funds needed are already secured. This includes an extraordinary $1.3 million in pledges from professional Fire Fighter Locals around the province; a $4 million investment from the Province of British Columbia; a $2.4 million donation of land from the City of Vancouver; and $750,000 in donated services from Concert Properties.
How can you help? Make a donation today. We are grateful for every donation received and you can help lift us a few more steps up the ladder to create the best place for burn and trauma survivors.
Donations accepted on our website burnfund.org or contact our office 604-436-5617.
The BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund has been providing Prevention and Survivor Support programs, and funding medical care and training for the people of British Columbia and the Yukon for almost four decades. The Burn Fund's vision is built by more than 3,800 professional fire fighters from 53 communities in British Columbia and the Yukon who dedicate their funds, time and expertise.
Image with caption: "The new Burn Fund Centre will provide a home-away-from-home for B.C.'s Burn & Trauma Survivors. (CNW Group/British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140915_C3834_PHOTO_EN_5609.jpg
SOURCE: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund
Lisa Lacamell, Burn Fund, Executive Director, 604-436-5617; Mike Hurley, Burn Fund, President, 604-436-5617
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