Grand Erie Reads to Lead! Over $26,000 Raised for Pediatric Care at the Brant Community Healthcare System

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

The Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) Foundation has officially wrapped up its third annual Read4BCHS event, raising a grand total of $26,257 for pediatric care.

It comes as no surprise that the top fundraisers included students within Grand Erie, namely two classes from Walter Gretzky Elementary School. Ms. Bradish’s class came in first place with an impressive 5,640 minutes read and Mr. Wilson’s Grade 7 class finished in second place.

Above: Walter Gretzky Elementary School Grade 7 teacher Brian Wilson packages up a Read4BCHS donation to the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) Foundation.

This interactive reading platform encourages young readers and their classes to collect donations by following four simple rules: read as much as you can, raise money through donations, record your reading progress, and win rewards.

“I am so proud of our school communities’ fundraising efforts in the Read4BCHS event,” said JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education. “The way our students and staff came together in their commitment to read for pediatric care is inspiring. We are delighted to support this cause.”

Participants were asked to choose an avatar and start reading as much as possible. Each minute spent reading was converted to kilometers across Canada, and the results were staggering. By the end of the event, participants had read for 21,699 minutes – enough to travel across Canada 7.25 times – and planted 21 trees in British Columbia through One Tree Planted.

All of this year’s event sponsorships and donations assist the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation to support patient equipment not funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, as well as programs such as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Acute Referral Service.