23rd Annual Have a Heart Radiothon

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation has announced the success of its 23rd Annual Have a Heart Radiothon, which brought in more than $40,000 this year.

Submitted photos

Hosted in partnership with 98.5 GO FM, 890 AM The Ranch, and 101.5 The Goat, the fundraiser will help purchase advanced cardiorespiratory monitors for the birthing centre at Fort St. John Hospital, improving care for the community’s newest and tiniest patients.

This year’s Radiothon was broadcast live from Home Hardware in Fort St. John, fueled by the remarkable generosity of local residents and the strong backing of matching donors PETRONAS Canada and Shell Canada Groundbirch.

PETRONAS Canada played a key role in reaching the day’s first major milestone, matching community donations to push the total to $21,695 early on. Company representatives Phil Riessner and Matt Shewfelt were on-site for the event, highlighting the value of supporting local healthcare initiatives.

“It’s crucial to our families to develop and enhance the communities we live in,” said Shewfelt in a media release.

The foundation offered a heartfelt thank-you to Shelley and Doug Gallinger, who’s timely $5,500 donation helped the campaign reach its second matching goal. Their generous contribution reflects the strong spirit of community that Fort St. John is known for.

Shell Canada Groundbirch followed with a $10,000 matching donation, pushing the campaign past its next milestone.

Erin McLean, Shell’s Production Superintendent, returned to the Radiothon and joined the broadcast to speak about the company’s continued commitment to supporting community health.

“As a local operator, the health and safety of our people and our community is one of Shell's core pillars. Supporting healthcare initiatives like this one, is a natural extension of that commitment. Together, we are making a real difference for the families in Fort St. John.”

The Foundation would also like to thank Tourmaline for their support, along with everyone who dropped by, donated and helped make a difference with the day's fundraising efforts.Radiothon proceeds will be used to purchase state of the art cardiorespiratory monitors, so that more newborns can remain in the birthing rooms with their parents when possible, which is more comfortable, better care and safer for the hospital's smallest patients.

Megan Edwards is the Clinical Practice Lead at the Fort St. John Birthing Centre, has been a key part of the local healthcare team for more than ten years. A Fort St. John native, she brings both professional expertise and a strong personal connection to the community.

During the Radiothon, Edwards spoke about the critical role advanced cardiorespiratory monitors play in enhancing care for newborns and supporting families at the Birthing Centre.

“Currently, our monitors are located in the nursery, which means that if a newborn needs extra support after birth, they often have to be separated from their parents. These new monitors will allow us to provide the same level of care right in the birthing rooms. That means more time for bonding, less stress for families, and better outcomes for our tiniest patients.”

Edwards emphasized that while access to up-to-date medical technology can be a challenge in northern communities like Fort St. John, it’s often in these areas that such equipment makes the most meaningful difference.

“This equipment will help us keep families together during those first critical hours. It’s not just about monitoring—it’s about comfort, safety, and giving every baby the best possible start.”