The Niagara Health Foundation is humbled by the incredible support and community spirit it has seen during its recent efforts to bring a 3rd MRI machine to Niagara. The Foundation was supported by Tom Rankin, who put out a community-wide call-to-action to support bringing a third MRI to the Niagara Region. The outpouring of support from Mr. Rankin’s efforts was almost immediate and created a flood of support and well wishes to Niagara Health, raising $2,800,000 in just over two months.

The Foundation set out in February to bring a third MRI to Niagara Health to help reduce wait times for Niagara residents, which were 27% longer than the provincial average. The new MRI machine will improve wait times and provide greater accuracy, allowing Niagara Health to give patients the best possible diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. The new MRI will be a 3-Tesla and will be used as a non-invasive medical test that provides exceptionally detailed images of organs, soft tissues, bone, and other internal body structures.

The Foundation received donations from individuals, families, and businesses from across the Niagara Region during the campaign. “We’re extremely thankful for the hundreds of donations we received ranging from $5 to $1,000,000. Every donation pushed us closer to our goal of $2,800,000, and it showed that the community was once again here for Niagara Health and here for each other.” Andrea Scott, Interim President & CEO – Niagara Health Foundation

“As a lifelong resident of this community, I’ve always known we have some incredible residents and businesses, and the amazing response to bring a new MRI to Niagara has reinforced that. Once again, we’ve proven that together we can make a difference.” Tom Rankin.

“Once again, a heartfelt thank you to those in our community who rallied to respond to the call with generosity. The impact of your gift will be life-changing for many, making extraordinary care possible for even more of our community. I am proud to support this cause, and I am proud of my friends and neighbours for joining me in the effort to help improve the quality of care in our area,” he said.

The Niagara Health Foundation will provide project updates as Niagara Health moves towards purchasing and installing the new MRI machine at the St. Catharines site. The updates will be posted on the Foundation website and the fundraising campaign site (www.MRIniagara.com).