While there was no premier equipment upgrade or program enhancement to centre the 2026 Radiothon fundraising campaign around, Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation (HHHSF) lead, Kathryn Quick, said last week’s event was still a major success bringing in $183,000 and counting.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Radiothon is one of the foundation’s cornerstone summertime fundraisers. It’s now brought in more than $1.5 million and has helped facilitate the purchase of a new CT scanner and mammography machine at the Haliburton hospital in recent years.
Running last Thursday and Friday (Aug. 13-14), Quick said volunteers were stationed at MooseFM to answer calls and also out in the community at Tim Hortons locations, Todd’s Independent, Haliburton Foodland and Dollo’s Foodland in Minden to accept in-person donations.
As of Tuesday evening (Aug 19), HHHSF had collected $83,794 – with Quick saying The WB Family Foundation, which initially agreed to match donations up to $100,000, has decided to gift the full $100,000.
“I think this was a year of educating and engaging. We made inroads with a lot of people in the community to help them understand what local-level health care is about,” Quick said. “We didn’t have a big, sexy piece of equipment that people could visualize this year. It’s more raising money for general hospital and community needs.”
One of the biggest benefactors will be HHHS’ community supports services programs, like Meals on Wheels and patient transportation. Quick said the money will also support seemingly mundane, yet needed and expensive, purchases.
“We’ve got a capital list to work with – if they tell us they need a bathtub for longterm care and that tub is $20,000, now we have the money to be able to pay for that,” Quick said. “Things like ER stretchers, those are $5,000 and have a lifespan – they break and deteriorate and then you have to replace them. It’s never one and done.”
Asked if there were any memorable moments this year, Quick said it was nice to welcome Klara Oyler, Dale Walker, Rick Lowes and Brian Daoust – the organizing team from the very first Radiothon in 2006 – into the studio last Thursday (Aug. 13).
She was also touched by the story shared by longtime HHHSF volunteers John and Judy Skinner, who were one of several interviewees over the two days. They told how, when dropping off meals with an older local couple, Judy discovered they were low on wood, which they used to heat their home. Later that day, volunteers from the Haliburton County Heat Bank stopped by with a load that saw the couple through winter.
“The message there is that this is not just about health care – HHHS’ services touch all community resources, it’s the food banks, SIRCH, clothing resources, the heat bank. Knitting everything together is what makes this community special,” Quick said.
Federal and provincial governments do not provide regular funding for equipment upgrades, forcing the community to fundraise itself. She said it’s a vital effort.
“The hospital is not a service you think about every day, until the day you need them or someone you loves needs them,” Quick said. “For a community of 21,000 to do this over and over again, is phenomenal.”
Provincial investment
Earlier this month, MPP Laurie Scott announced the Ontario government was investing an additional $866,400 to support improved operations and reduced wait times at the Haliburton hospital.
In an Aug. 5 press release, Scott said the funding is part of an $11 billion investment into Ontario hospitals in the 2026 budget. It represents a four per cent increase in support for HHHS. The local organization received a further $58,880 to complete upgrades and repairs in Haliburton and Minden.
“We are grateful for this investment… into our local health system. This funding will ensure we continue to deliver high-quality care to our communities while improving our infrastructure, all while delivering on our goal of being a model of excellence in rural health care,” said HHHS president and CEO, Jack Hutchison.
