Fundraising record set by McGregor Music Festival

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Cheque for $22,605 presented to Windsor & Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

Posted 1 month ago

The McGregor Music Festival organizing committee held a wrap-up party at the home of chair Sue LeClair last week and presented the Windsor & Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation a cheque for $22,605. The donation will help purchase a Faxitron, a device used to treat breast cancer patients.

McGREGOR — Another year, another record for the McGregor Music Festival.

The festival's organizing committee held their annual wrap-up party last Tuesday night at the home of chair Sue LeClair where it was learned the festival raised $22,605 this year. That tops last year's record by approximately $2,000.

"We are very, very happy," said LeClair.

There were approximately 500 attendees at the June 13 festival at Co-An Park. The pig auction raised roughly $1,000 while the Chinese auction and arms-length raffle brought in $850 and $1,000 respectively.

"The music was awesome," said LeClair. She pointed out there was a variety of music offered during the all-day festival thus giving something for everyone.

Much of the success belongs to the people and the businesses, said LeClair. The committee was able to secure door prizes thanks to the help of the businesses.

"It's the community," she said. "Everyone is hit with cancer. The community was there to help. We knocked on doors and we asked."

The crowd that turned out not only came but spent as well, added LeClair.

"Everyone that came brought their wallets. That's the secret to the success. They came to spend," she said.

LeClair said the committee was focused on what they were there to do and came through.

"They worked their hearts out," she said.

The Windsor Regional Cancer Centre sees roughly 2,800 new patients per year. The foundation is the fundraising wing of the organization. The amount of people that go through the centre every year contributes to the reason for the annual donation. LeClair said a big selling point for people is the fact the money stays locally.

"The cancer centre does so many good things," said LeClair, "but they need the money to do them."

Proceeds from this year's event will be designated toward a "Faxitron DX-50 Surgical Specimen Radiography System." The system, which will be used specifically for breast tissue biopsies, includes an x-ray unit, workstation, mouse, keyboard, digital camera and magnification stand.

The Faxitron enables a surgical nurse to produce a high-resolution digital image of the area being biopsied or removed, allowing the image to be shared electronically with the entire medical team. This means that confirmation can be made that the entire target area has been removed prior to closing, potentially reducing the need for another surgery. Further, the equipment speeds up procedure time, meaning that the patient is under anesthesia for a shorter period of time – an average decrease of 19 minutes.

Cost of the equipment is estimated at $90,000.

Margaret Williams, president of the foundation's board of directors, added the Faxitron will "make so much difference to people." Fundraising is progressing to the point where the equipment can be ordered "pretty soon."

Williams said there are often questions as to why senior levels of government don't buy such pieces of equipment. She pointed out that there is "a pot of money" available to purchase equipment but "they can't buy everything."

The cancer centre aims to be first-class at everything they do, added Williams, including having the best equipment. That is a reason the foundation fundraises.

"We really think cancer patients in Windsor-Essex County deserve the best available equipment," she said.

A portion of proceeds will also be designated for the patient assistance fund, Williams noted. Williams, a two-time cancer patient, said "it's bad enough" for a person to hear the news that they have cancer but when additional expenses start piling up, the fund is there to help. Money is distributed through social works so that no one is taking unfair advantage of the system, she said.

Williams added "it's very rewarding" to know they are helping people in their times of need. She too credits the community for the overall success of the foundation.

"It's Windsor-Essex County coming together. We're just the conduit," she said.

The work of the festival organizing committee was appreciated, Williams added.

"Thank you to the people who want to donate. This group is amazing," she said.