The Power of Community Support
In Langley, generosity can be found everywhere - on the rinks, fields and pitches, in the stands and at large community events.
This past autumn, donors combined their love of sports, socializing and local health care by fundraising for Langley Memorial Hospital (LMH).
On November 2, Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation (LCHHF) hosted the Electric Gala, its 33rd annual signature gala to support excellence in patient care. The gala attracted 344 guests as part of a $1.1 million campaign to replace LMH’s two aging X-ray machines.
“The newer technology is lighter, so there’s less impact on our technologists,” says Dr. Emil Lee, Fraser Health’s Regional Department Head of Medical Imaging. “It’s faster, so hopefully patients will wait less time to get an X-ray. It provides a lesser dose than older machines, so the patient gets exposed to less radiation.”
Athletic Community Shows Support
During the Foundation’s first Sports Injury Month in September 2024, Langley’s sports teams and venues including the Langley Rivermen, Langley Thunder, Vancouver Giants, Vancouver Football Club, Vancouver Bandits, Langley Rams and Thunderbird Show Park raised more than $50,000 towards the X-ray machines through donations of portions of ticket sales, 50/50 draws and other fundraising efforts.
Sports injuries, or any injuries sustained during exercise or athletic activity, can occur suddenly - often in a collision between two or more players (common in football or hockey) or through repetitive motions, common in sports such as tennis, running or weight-lifting.
Langley Memorial currently relies on two X-ray machines, which together process over 4,600 procedures monthly. However, the newest X-ray machine was installed in 2009 and has been used far past its 10-year lifespan. Worn over time, the ripple effects of consistent daily use have become debilitating. Incomplete or unclear images, long waits among patients while the machines are being repaired and aging equipment frustrate patients and technologists alike.
Meeting the Health Care Needs of a Growing Population
The technology of the new X-ray machines will offer significantly improved image quality and resolution, replacing the 15-year-old machines currently in use. The upgraded machines will also reduce patients’ exposure to radiation - a crucial improvement for cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses who require frequent X-rays.
Leanne Laurin, a longtime donor and presenting sponsor of the Electric Gala with her husband Mike, stresses the importance of donor contributions to support the hospital’s growth alongside the community.
“Langley has evolved from a small farming town to one of Metro Vancouver’s fastest-growing communities, full of young, active families,” Laurin explains. “This hospital needs to keep pace.”