A Profile of a Benefactor

From the Victoria General Hospital Foundation Annual Report 1996

The Nova Scotia Firefighters' Burn Treatment Society was begun in 1983 out of a commitment shared by a few firefighters to do what they could to ease the suffering they witnessed. What began as a handful of firefighters holding hotdog sales has changed to a province-wide organization of firefighters and associate members who, adopting the same commitment, have given over $160,000 to benefit VG burn patients.

Thanks to the humanitarian effort of the Nova Scotia Firefighters' Burn Treatment Society, VG patients, who suffer so terribly from burns, now undergo the best treatment, have access to the best therapeutic equipment and the VG burn team has firsthand knowledge of the most effective treatment techniques money can buy.

Today, while they heal, VG burn patients now have special care beds to lay on - soothing fluid air beds, filled with silicon glass beads. Burn patients have special  exercise equipment to rejuvenate injured muscles. And those who cannot be grafted with their own skin now have the benefit of donated skin retrieved from the VG's Regional Skin Tissue and Eye Bank which these firefighters were instrumental in establishing.

At the annual awards dinner hosted by the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Society for Fund Raising Executives the Nova Scotia Firefighters' Burn Treatment Society was presented with a citation for their work in the category of Outstanding Philanthropic Group. Shown in photo on the right, representing the firefighters, is Dave Collier accepting the plaque of recognition from Nancy Margeson. Nancy was pleased to make the presentation in both her capacities as director of major gifts and planned giving for the Foundation and as president of the NS chapter of the CSFRE.
 
From modest hotdog sales to annual bowl-a-thons held in Halifax metro and in Sydney, to the summer ladder-a-thon, to enlisting corporate promotional sponsorship, to selling special calendars, to holding dances and barbecues, these firefighters' have boundless energy and their commitment is inspiring.