The Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation is bringing a smile to every patient’s face with the 12th Annual Making Spirits Bright Campaign.

Philanthropy and Strategy Vice President Heather Hedstrom says the year-end campaign encourages donors to browse through a catalogue of equipment and programs that would benefit from increased funding. Some of this year’s choices include EEG equipment, assisting with the financial barriers of families in the hospital, and the Beads of Courage initiative.

“It gives an opportunity for donors to learn and then have an idea of what they want to support, as we are Saskatchewan’s only Jim Pattison’s Children’s Hospital.”

Every donation up to $75,000 will be matched by Thrive Wealth Management for added impact.

The family being highlighted this year is the Woodard family, three of which were admitted into the hospital within the same week. Deanna and Jon, from Osler, had just welcomed their second son into the world. Just hours after coming home from the hospital, the new baby became lethargic, and they rushed him back to JPCH where he was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Then, later that same week, their older son developed a persistent fever. Testing at JPCH revealed that the young boy had leukemia.

Shortly after all of this, Deanna herself experienced a hemorrhage from retained placenta and needed to be admitted to JPCH, as well. On three separate floors of the hospital, nearly the entire Woodard family was at JPCH at the same time for about 40 days in total.

To donate, head online to pattisonchildrens.ca or call 1-888-808-KIDS. The campaign runs until the end of December.