Vernon Doctors Hockey Tournament Donates $75,000 for Cardiac Care and Surgical Services at VJH

Thanks to the vision and dedication of a local physician, North Okanagan residents will receive major enhancements to their health care.The Vernon Doctors Hockey Tournament, founded by Dr. William Cawkell, has donated $75,000 to Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation to support Surgical Services and the purchase of a LUCAS Chest Compression System at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.“Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes out to Dr. Cawkell and the physicians who support this tournament,” said Sue Beaudry, Director of Development, VJH Foundation. “Our doctors are not only on the front lines of health care, they are behind the scenes, dedicated to saving and improving lives.”Dr. Cawkell started the hockey tournament for doctors in 1983, with four teams of doctors playing in Lumby. Since then, the Vernon Doctors Hockey Tournament has grown into a non-profit society, with the annual tournament comprising 24 teams playing 48 games over a two-day period. More than 300 physicians converge in Vernon to take part in Western Canada’s largest symposium of physicians. This year’s tournament took place March 3 & 4th, and was dedicated to Dr. Cawkell in honour of the contributions he has made over the past 34 years.Annually, the tournament donates $5,000 to a local charitable cause, and another $5,000 is awarded to a team who donates to a charity within their own community.An investment fund that started years ago, accumulated to almost $100,000. With the retirement of Dr. Cawkell in 2016, it was decided to donate the fund to VJH Foundation.Funds will be designated to Surgical Services and the purchase of a LUCAS Chest Compression System for Vernon Jubilee Hospital. The LUCAS system performs mechanically-controlled chest compressions on a rotating two-minute schedule. Life-sustaining circulation can be created through effective and uninterrupted chest compressions. The system provides consistent quality for all patients, independent of transport conditions, rescuer fatigue, or variability in the experience level of the caregiver.Surgical Services is a priority need that is funded consistently by VJH Foundation. Providing surgeons with the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment needed to diagnose and treat a variety of critical health issues, is vitally important to the well-being of North Okanagan residents.