Donations will light the Christmas trees at hospitals in Chatham and Wallaceburg.
It's for the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance's annual Christmas Wish Tree campaign, where residents can publicly remember a loved one with a blue, silver or gold light, by making a donation.
"What happens is they purchase a light, and in honour of that person, a light is lit," says Development Officer Barbara Noorenberghe.
As in years past, money raised will go towards helping the CKHA purchase five new pieces of diagnostic imaging equipment.
"We're looking for a new CT scan, ultrasound equipment, fluoroscopy system, and a new spect CT scanner. We have already purchased the bone density machine," she says.
To date, $4-million has been raised for the CKHA's $6.9-million equipment renewal campaign, with last year's appeal raising more than $100,000 of that, says Noorenberghe.
"But wouldn't it be nice to raise [the remaining $2.9 million], so we can move onto a new campaign for the hospital?" she says.
Noorenberghe says ultimately, they're hoping even more lights will be lit on this year's Christmas Wish Trees than they had in 2015.
"I think at some point in everybody's life, we use the hospital. Whether it's giving birth, visiting a family member, or through a diagnosis," she says, "it's something that we all need, and it's very important to communities."
The annual tree lighting ceremony at CKHA’s Chatham and Sydenham campuses is this December 15 at 6:30pm. Everybody is invited.
