Today and tomorrow the 2023 Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Radiothon presented by CIBC Wood Gundy is back for its 21st year and will be taking over the airwaves across the province.    

As always, their goal is to continue to raise money that will go towards helping sick kids all across Saskatchewan and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.   

This year the funds will be directed towards enhancing provincial pediatric intensive care including better access to pediatric transports for children living in rural and remote communities, allowing specialists to provide care for kids remotely with virtual robotics to keep them closer to home, new cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art new equipment.  

"I can use the word 'necessity' to be honest with this equipment that we have. If we are looking at us being the only service in the province and this highly specialized, unique group of providers, we need to be supported with the equipment to match the skill set and the services we aim to provide," said Rebecca Brockman, manager of nursing, Pediatric Intensive Care and Pediatric Transport Team at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital.  

All donations will be matched by Gord and Barb Broda up to $150,000.  As philanthropists, the Brodas have supported the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital for a decade, Gord is the President of Broda Group of Companies based in Prince Albert and a board member of the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation.   

Saskatchewan only has one pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the province, located at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital. The Jim Pattison Hospital sees over 80,000 sick children each year for an average of 220 patients each day. This makes the hospital a crucial hub for specialists to look after kids with life-threatening conditions.  

The PICU sees over 650 patients yearly with 62 per cent of those patients coming from outside of Saskatoon.  

Through the two-day radiothon, listeners may get a little emotional, as they will hear the stories of patients that have or currently are receiving treatment at the children’s hospital.    

"Any pediatric patient that does require critical care and services needs to come to our centre. If we wouldn't exist there would be issues with many kids and families having to go out-of-province," Brockman said.  

The 2023 Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Radiothon presented by CIBC Wood Gundy will be live on the radio from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow.    

Those who want to donate to the foundation can do so by calling the CPKC Sunshine Line at 1-888-808-KIDS (5437), or online at pattisonchildrens.ca.  

Since the very first Radiothon, 21 years ago, over $15.26 million has been raised for Saskatchewan moms and kids in the hospital.