POOCH donates $1,500 to Back the Build Campaign

Belleville, ON, Canada / Quinte News

Oct 18, 2019 | 4:09 PM

(L-R) Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation, Sherry Tait, director on the PECMH Foundation Board, Dave Gray, founding member of POOCH, Betsy Sinclair, POOCH member, Ian Batt, POOCH member, George MacNabb, POOCH chairperson, Leo Finnegan, director on the PECMH Foundation Board and Briar Boyce, senior development officer with the PECMH Foundation. (Photo: Submitted / PECMHF)

A healthcare advocacy group in Prince Edward County has made a financial donation to the campaign for a new hospital, as it prepares to wind down its work.

The patrons of the county hospital donated $1,500 to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Back the Build Campaign today, with the money coming from the remaining funds left in the group’s operating budget.

Since it was formed in 2012, POOCH has spearheaded a number of initiatives, including a campaign and peaceful protest to save hospital services in 2013, which gathered over 5,500 signatures in support of the Picton hospital.

Members of the group now say they’ll be stepping aside and waiting to celebrate in 2025 when the ribbon is cut on the new hospital in The County.