For more than a quarter of a century, the Courtenay Legion has committed to building stronger healthcare in the Comox Valley, with more than $300,000 within the past 25 years in donations to the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation.

Most recently, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 17 in Courtenay donated $25,000 from the Legion Poppy Fund for the purchase of a new workstation in the MDRD decontamination room that will support nearly 8,000 surgeries provided annually at the Comox Valley Hospital (CVH), North Island campus.

Ensuring veterans, their families and the greater community continue to have access to quality healthcare is an important priority for the Legion.

鈥淭his generous gift will allow for the surgical equipment used in the five operating rooms to be processed 鈥� cleaned, disinfected, inspected, and sterilized as soon as it is used, helping to prevent delays for patients needing surgery,鈥�, said Sheila Petersen, surgical services clinical co-ordinator at CVH.

鈥淭he MDRD is considered the heart of the hospital and the tremendous heart shown by the community members who donated to the Poppy Trust Fund and in turn by the Courtenay Legion for their continued commitment towards healthcare is truly remarkable,鈥� said Rhonda Stevens, co-executive director of CVHF and a veteran.

鈥淥ur community continues to do remarkable things to help one another. We live in a great place with incredible people. Thank you Courtenay Legion; we are so grateful for your care.鈥�