The Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF) is gearing up for their 2020 spring home lottery.
The top prize is a 4,000 square-foot, fully-furnished bungalow showhome nestled in the The Creeks neighbourhood plus $30,000 in cash. The value of the home is set at $1.4 million.
While visitors can’t help but marvel at the home’s luxury and splendor, the importance of the fundraiser means more to children and families that need access to health care close to home.
Funds from the lottery’s ticket sales will help assist pediatric programs and services at facilities in southern Saskatchewan, providing residents the chance to have their children treated without needing to travel far.
Dino Sophocleous, president and CEO of the foundation, says the lottery is significant in keeping these supports active and to create opportunities for expansion.
Some of the home’s features include four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, an exercise room and wine room. (Photos: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
He added that Regina sees around 10,000 children in pediatrics every year at local hospitals. It’s expected that number will be at approximately 15,000 children as they continue with expansions.
Nicki Bayfield-Ash, director of maternal and children’s programs for Regina and rural with the Saskatchewan Health Authroity (SHA), mentioned they have had great results with recruiting new sub-specialists in the province over the last number of years.
But now the goal for the SHA is to bring families back home so they don’t have to go to Saskatoon or out-of-province for services.
“We can avoid all that and that’s very stressful for families. There’s time loss from work, wages lost, time out of school for the kids, the cost of travelling with some overnight stays,” she said.
“To bring them closer to home, even though some may still travel a bit into Regina, it will be a lot easier since it will be a short day trip.”
Money collected from the lottery will go towards areas such as equipment, rooms and buildings, along with supports to their visiting clinics in the Queen City.
“You can’t put a price on what they do for us. It’s astounding,” added Bayfield-Ash.
The foundation expects to raise $2 million from this spring’s lottery.
Other prizes for the spring lotto include a new Maui trip VIP prize, 7 Wonder of the World bonus prize and the Australia and Audi early bird prize or $100,000 in cash.
Tickets are now for sale with the early bird deadline at midnight on April 24. The deadline to buy tickets for the grand prize is May 8.
More information on tickets, prizes and contest rules can be found at their website.
