A Huntsville resident is once again swimming to fundraise for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.
Trish Kruusmagi, development officer at the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, says local swimmer Joy Jarvis will swim from Algonquin Outfitters dock in downtown Huntsville, up the Muskoka River to Lake Vernon, around Gallagher’s Island, and back.
She adds Jarvis will start swimming at 8 a.m. on Sunday (July 28).
“Joy is an avid swimmer, and she has lots of support in the community,” Kruusmagi said. “This is her second year swimming for us.”
Kruusmagi says Jarvis’ fundraising goal is the same as last year, $5,000, adding she raised over $6,000 last year.
Jarvis has her own fundraising page.
On it, she mentions the local hospital’s need for vital medical equipment is constant, and millions of dollars are required annually to keep pace with advancing technology.
“It may come as a surprise, but hospitals do not receive funding from the province for capital equipment. In fact, an astounding 90 per cent of the cost of new equipment comes from donated dollars,” Jarvis states on her website. “By supporting my fundraising efforts, you will be directly contributing to the very best local healthcare that benefits us all.”
Kruusmagi says they have an annual goal of about $2 million they need to raise each year for the equipment.
“We have such a supportive community, which we are so grateful for,” says Kruusmagi. “I’d love to thank Joy for her efforts and in doing this swim. I know she’s been training, basically, since the ice went out.”
