Co-ops present lead gift to Medcenter One renovation project
Community cooperatives presented the lead gift to Medcenter One’s “Amber’s Dream” project Sept. 22.
Dakota Gasification Company - September 24, 2009
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James Cooper (center), Medcenter One president/CEO, accepts
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Fifteen-year-old Amber DesRoches spent more time in the hospital than any kid should. She was fighting to live, to beat the leukemia that was taking so much from her.
Through her fight, she had a wish for other children who would have to spend time in the children’s wing of Medcenter One: Make it a magical, happy place, where fears are replaced with warmth and the magic of Peter Pan.
Sadly, DesRoches lost her battle with leukemia in December 2007. On Sept. 22, her wish came true as Medcenter One in Bismarck, ND, announced the launch of “Amber’s Dream, ” a major gift campaign to renovate the children’s wing at the hospital.
Jumpstarting the campaign is the lead gift of $80,000 provided by Basin Electric, Capital Electric, KEM Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric and Slope Electric. This donation will bring DesRoches’ vision of the children’s playroom to life.
These community cooperatives became acquainted with DesRoches’ story during North Dakota’s first-ever St. Baldrick’s Day celebration in March of 2007. St. Baldrick’s is the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family. Since 2007, Basin Electric, together with other cooperatives and organizations throughout North Dakota and Wyoming, has raised more than $200,000 for the foundation and shaved nearly 300 heads.
“We met Amber’s mother, Pam DesRoches, when we were planning our 2007 St. Baldrick’s Day event,” said Mike Eggl, Basin Electric senior vice president of External Relations and Communications. “We learned of Amber’s courage and her dream for Medcenter One. Each year, we honor Amber at our St. Baldrick’s event. Today, we honor her with this donation. No child should have to face illness. Sadly, too many do. By transforming the children’s wing into a magical place, their journey to wellness may not be so scary.”
Through the cooperatives’ donation, the playroom will be transformed. “Sponsoring the playroom naturally interested us. It’s the one area in the hospital where kids can be kids, and maybe for a minute, shift the focus from being ill,” Eggl said.
Clayton Hoffman, co-manager of Roughrider Electric, Slope Electric and Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, said this donation fits nicely with his cooperatives’ criteria for donations. “One of the goals when our cooperative makes a donation is to improve the quality of life for our members,” he said. “Amber’s Dream does more than meet that goal by providing our children with a magical and healing environment during a very stressful time in their life.”
Joining Hoffman as co-manager of Roughrider, Slope and Mor-Gran-Sou is Don Franklund. Franklund said the cooperatives’ participation in “Amber’s Dream” complements their work with St. Baldrick’s. “We are working to help cure childhood cancer through our St. Baldrick’s efforts, and now with Medcenter One’s “Amber’s Dream” project, we’re also providing a local contribution that will not only benefit young cancer patients, but all injured and sick kids. I’m pleased that we’re able to help make an uncomfortable time a little nicer.”
Lars Nygren, general manager of Capital Electric Cooperative, said the same philosophy under which cooperatives were formed applies to this project. “We can make a real difference in the community by combining our resources with other local cooperatives to support a great cause like Amber’s Dream,” Nygren said.
Ken Berreth, interim general manager/CEO of KEM Electric, said his board of directors was immediately supportive of “Amber’s Dream.” “Many of our consumers travel to Bismarck for medical care,” Berreth said. “Being able to support the Bismarck medical community in this manner appealed to us. Since children are priceless treasurers and hold our future, I’m pleased that as cooperatives, we’re able to help build this magical play area for children where troubles can be temporarily forgotten.”
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