QEH Big Day of Giving returns May 21 to Support Urgent Equipment Needs
MAY 16, 2025
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — On Wednesday, May 21, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation invites Islanders to take part in the Big Day of Giving — a 24-hour celebration and fundraising event to support urgently needed medical equipment at the QEH.
This year, the Big Day of Giving aims to raise over $500,000 for urgent equipment needs, including support for MRI technology upgrades. Funding priorities include a software upgrade for the hospital’s MRI machine to help reduce wait times and improve diagnosis, an Ortho C-Arm for orthopedic procedures, portable X-ray units for bedside imaging, and BiliLux lights for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Your donation helps equip the hospital with the tools healthcare teams need to care for the people you love — our family, your neighbours, your friends,” says John Scales, chair of the QEH Foundation board. “Every dollar stays right here on the Island, strengthening care close to home for all of us.”
From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Ocean 100 and Hot 105.5 will broadcast live from the QEH lobby, sharing inspiring stories from patients, staff and donors. Islanders can tune in, donate online or by phone, and follow along on social media as donations roll in from across the province.
Throughout the day, Islanders will hear powerful stories from patients whose lives were transformed through care at the QEH:
- You’ll meet Penny Walsh-McGuire — a breast cancer survivor and proud mom to her son, Rowan. Penny says her most difficult days came not during treatment, but after. With help from the QEH team, she found strength she didn’t know she had.
- You’ll hear about Everett Pratt, whose life began with a medical emergency. A split-second diagnosis and quick action from the NICU team helped him recover from a brain injury. Thanks to donors, the QEH now has a CritiCool device to protect future newborns in crisis.
- There’s Chad McCormack, a roofer who was left paralyzed after a fall. Thanks to the exceptional care he received at the QEH, he’s back doing the things he loves, including working on cars and training for the Paralympics in archery.
- And you’ll meet Lucas Arsenault, a professional kiteboarder who was attacked by a shark while vacationing in the Turks and Caicos. Less than a year later, he was back on the water with help from QEH’s physical medicine and rehabilitation team, who built him a custom prosthetic made for the waves.
“These stories are powerful reminders of what’s possible when the QEH has the generosity of community behind them,” says Scales. “With your help, we can turn even more moments of crisis into stories of recovery.”
To learn more or donate to the QEH Big Day of Giving, visit www.QEHBigDay.ca, call toll-free 1-833-335-0545, visit the QEH Foundation office, or mail your cheque to: QEH Foundation, P.O. Box 6600, Charlottetown, P.E.I., C1A 8T5.
Media Contact:
Erin MacDonald
Director, Communications
QEH Foundation
erinmacdonald@ihis.org
902-894-2956