Riverside Health Care’s MRI campaign receives $20,000 boost

Riverside Health Care is inching closer to its goal of raising $1.6 million.

The campaign to bring a new MRI unit to La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances and Digital Radiography units at La Verendrye and Rainy River Health Centre has been aided by a $20,000 donation from owners of the local Canadian Tire Store, John and Marinela Malgo.

John Malgo says it is an important cause to back.

“When you have people, families that have to travel for what you would consider routine procedures or checkups, it’s an amazing cause here in the town, and we’re very grateful to be able to support it,” says Malgo.

Riverside’s Holly Kaemingh is also ecstatic about the donation.

“It’s the largest donation from a local business in the area,” says Kaemingh.

“We’re so grateful, so excited to see this campaign moving forward.”

Kaemingh says they are about $165,000 away from their goal.

“We’re so grateful for the support of our community and really excited to see this MRI project and x-ray project come to life,” says Kaemingh.

Riverside hopes to have the campaign wrapped up this fall.

It plans to seek out in April a contractor for the expansion of the hospital and have the work completed by fall.

The equipment would be installed in December.

The MRI is expected to be operational by January 2027.