Richmond firefighters show big heart with $100,000 donation
Richmond firefighters are donating $100,000 to fund one of eight units at the future Burn Fund Centre in Vancouver.
“We’ve seen firsthand that helping with accommodation for burn and trauma survivors and their families can be
one of the most significant contributions to help survivors physically and emotionally recover and live a full life,”
said Mike Hurley, president of the Burn Fund. “We’re so grateful that the firefighters in Richmond have
shown such leadership in helping us meet this critical need.”
The new $13.1-million Burn Fund Centre—to be built at 3891 Main St. in the next few years—will provide eight short-term stay units to meet the critical shortfall in appropriate accommodation for burn and trauma patients and their family caregivers.
The centre will also house the offices of the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association and Burn Fund and include ground floor retail space to help fund the ongoing operation of the building.
The Burn Fund has now secured 80 per cent of necessary funding and is currently in the midst of a capital campaign.
The donation from Richmond firefighters will fund one of the eight units in the new centre, and will be named in their honour. They join firefighters in Burnaby, Cranbrook, Delta, Kamloops, Kelowna, North Vancouver District and Surrey in contributing a total of $675,000 to the cause.
According to the Burn Fund, B.C. has a critical shortfall in accommodation for burn and trauma patients and their family caregivers. Patients’ health may be compromised when they have to return home sooner than medically
advised or live in accommodations not suited to recovery from a burn or trauma.
Each year almost 700 children and adults from across the province are admitted to the burn, plastic and trauma unit at Vancouver General Hospital and B.C. Children's Hospital. Patients who come from outside the Lower Mainland make up 27 per cent of cases, and 60 per cent of those are paying an average of eight weeks of accommodation.
“Nobody plans to be a burn survivor, but when it happens, your family’s life is turned inside out in a matter of seconds," said Lisa Lacamell, executive director of the Burn Fund. "With our contributions to research, patient care, survivor support and prevention we’re trying to give British Columbians their best chance. The Burn Fund Centre is the missing piece of that legacy.”
The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund has been providing prevention and survivor support programs,
and funding medical care, training and research to the people of British Columbia and the Yukon for almost
four decades.
The Burn Fund's vision is built by more than 3,800 professional fire fighters from 53 communities in B.C. and Yukon who graciously dedicate their funds, time and expertise.
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