Rupert's cherished hockey team has raised a record-breaking $501,186 for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, including matched donations from the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
This marks the most successful fundraiser in the three-year history of the "Rampage Fights Cancer" campaign. The team raised $107,000 in its first year, followed by $276,000 last year, and this time, they've shot past the half-million mark.
"We're just more than a hockey team. We're a community team. And the biggest thing is that you got to teach kids how to be good community citizens," said Terena Stegavig, vice president of the Rupert Rampage.
"We're just trying to bring the good name back of hockey — Canada's game, and all our guys are on board and they all want to make it better."
Stegavig explained that the idea for the Rampage campaign emerged after the pandemic when she noticed the deterioration of healthcare services in local facilities. She became deeply concerned with emergency rooms closing often and hospitals struggling to maintain adequate staffing. Realizing that the hospital is a vital resource the entire community uses, she decided it would be the perfect focus for fundraising efforts to support local healthcare workers and services.
Each year, funds raised through the campaign are used to purchase vital medical equipment such as a laparoscopic surgical tower, which helps perform minimally invasive surgeries. The purchases benefit both cancer and non-cancer patients.
This year's efforts are focused on significantly enhancing urology services at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital. Planned purchases include an OR urology table, surgical lights, an anaesthetic machine, two cystoscopes, a VPRO S2 sterilization unit, and two cutting-edge laser systems: the GreenLight Laser and the SOLTIVE Laser System. The hospital also aims to bring rotating urologists to help patients.
"The urology equipment is crucial to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions related to the urinary system and male reproductive organs, cancer- and non-cancer related procedures for the bladder, kidneys, urethra, ureters and male reproductive organs," said Brittany Pederson, Manager of Community Relations at the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Sharon Stromdahl is an organizer with a Cancer Talent Auction committee, which raises funds for Prince Rupert's hospital. She shared that last year, about 170 people had to leave the city and travel down south to deal with urological problems.
"So now, by having that equipment here, those individuals will be able to stay here and get treatment here... It's amazing that we will be able to keep people here, particularly in their times of need. They'll be able to seek the treatments in the community with their families and their loved ones," said Stromdahl.
In addition to sending fundraising request letters to local businesses, the Rampage team also hosted a by-donation, three-day hockey school for interested participants this year, which was a massive success. The local McDonald's participated in the event by hosting a free burger party for the children, who enjoyed mingling with Rampage players.
"Rupert has never been known as the number one hockey team, usually Terrace is the one. But we're definitely, by far, the best community team, and we fill the barn and everybody comes to watch our game. It's about giving back. You got to teach all these young people to give back and volunteer and do what you can for your community," said the Rampage vice president.
