PET Scanner Fundraising Completed Moments After Space For It Was Funded

By: Nick Liard

The Provincial Government announced they will be providing 4.6 million dollars for additional space at Health Sciences North to house a permanent PET Scanner.

A PET scanner helps detect certain cancers, but is also used as a CT scanner to find certain diseases.

Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Dr. Eric Hoskins says the over 500 patients who need to travel to use that technology will no longer have to do so.

Hoskins says it’s world class technology and Health Sciences North deserves it as a world class hospital.

The Sam Bruno PET Scan Fund committee had raised over three million dollars out of four million needed for the scanner itself.

One million dollars was the last step, as the province also announced in 2015 they are covering operating costs.

And moments after the provincial funding announcement was made, the Northern Cancer Foundation announced two anonymous donors gave 500 thousand dollars each, meaning a PET scanner can now be bought.

Members of the Sam Bruno PET Scan Fund committee, including Sam Bruno’s mother were in attendance to hear their work is complete.

Brenda Tessaro is the media communications representative says it was an emotional moment as they broke down in tears.

She says they were thinking about how they would raise the last million before the announcement, and now it’s all over.

With the funds all in place and once a contract is awarded, the addition space for the PET scanner will take up to 12 months to build.