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Northern Lights Health Foundation, partners in holiday spirit

PHOTO. Representatives from Suncor and Finning Canada stopped by the Northern Lights Health Foundation to donate back the Operation Bear Hug Tree to the Northern Lights Health Foundation and hand out 275 teddy bears to newborns and children at the hospital. Supplied by the Northern Lights Health Foundation.

Partners of the Northern Lights Health Foundation (NLHF) provided the hospital with an early Christmas gift.

Suncor purchased Finning Canada’s Operation Bear Hug tree, which the company put together for the 2019 Festival of Trees.

Inside Finning’s ornate tree, which sold at auction for $38,000, were 275 teddy bears.

On Dec. 16, 2019, representatives arrived at the hospital to announce Suncor would donate the Operation Bear Hug Tree back to the NLHF.

This meant all 275 teddy bears would go to the youngest patients of the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

NLHF Director of Development Lorna Ash said the foundation is happy the success of the Festival of Trees continues to give.

“Not only did this tree raise $38,000 for long term impacts to local healthcare; Suncor and Finning were able to help make the holidays even brighter by distributing the bears to patients throughout the hospital.”

Holiday spirit

Suncor and Finning representatives met with hospital staff in the Suncor Heart of Health Lobby.

The large group took a tour of the facility and also handed out teddy bears to children as they went.

“No one wants to be in the hospital over the holidays,” Said Jordanna Lambert, Director of Patient Care with the NLHF,  “but these teddy bears will help put a smile on the faces of those receiving care.”

Lambert added Wood Buffalo’s newest arrivals in the Maternity Ward would also take home a new bear.

Brent Davis, Vice President of Mining Solutions with Finning Canada, called it a wonderful gift.

“We were thrilled that Suncor donated Finning’s tree back to the hospital, and extended their generosity by giving back to our community and making the holidays a little brighter for the patients.”

The NLHF Festival of Trees, presented by Syncrude, raised $650,000 for local healthcare.