Today is the beginning of "We Care for Healthcare Week" in Swift Current.

Declared at last Monday's City Council meeting, the week's purpose is to raise awareness for the work that the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation does in southwest Saskatchewan.

Clay Thompson, the executive director of the foundation, said that for his organization, the week helps them to raise money for this year's campaign.

"This year, its our 'Close to the Heart' campaign. We're trying to get the funds needed to replace the digital mammography unit here at the hospital here in Swift Current."

Thompson said the week comes just in time to see the foundation gear up for one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.

"One of our largest annual fundraisers, and the fundraiser that we hope will bring us a whole lot closer to our goal, is our annual Pharmasave Radiothon for Healthcare."

The event will be broadcast over three radio stations in Swift Current on October 31 as donations are phoned in from all over southwest Saskatchewan.

The foundation has had a busy campaign so far with independent fundraisers, and support from organizations within the community.

"The [Saskatchewan Health Athourity] and healthcare providers advise us what kind of healthcare needs there are, where pieces of equipment will help what they do, and we simply take that message to the community, and the community rallies around us."

The foundation is over a third of the way towards purchasing the mammography machine, which costs around $350,000.

Thompson mentioned that donations have been smaller this year, but remain steady.

"As we talk to business people around the city, ones that have been loyal to us for many, many years, they say 'wow, this has been a pretty tough year, I'm not sure if we can help to the extent that we have in the past,' but all of them are coming through for us."

"Maybe its a little bit less than what we've gotten from the business community in the past, but they're all still there, they're all still loyal to us."

He said that he was cautiously optimistic that they would be able to reach their fundraising goal by the end of 2019, but would be willing to extend the campaign if need be. February of next year would be the latest they could go without interupting their schedule for the next fundraiser.

Since beginning operations in Swift Current 20 years ago, the foundation has been helping to bring healthcare facilities and equipment to the southwest corner of the province.

Thompson remarked that the City of Swift Current has helped them on their journey through the years.

On Friday, the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation was inducted into the Swift Current Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame at the SCBEX awards.