More than 300 walkers and runners descended on the Mission Club Golf Course in Vandenberg Village Saturday for the Lompoc Hospital District Foundation Colorthon 5K. The family friendly fundraising event kicked off at 9 a.m. with a huge spray of color — actually dyed cornstarch — that coated the shirts of participants.
Registrations and dozens of sponsorships from local individuals and businesses helped the Lompoc Hospital District Foundation meet its initial fundraising goal. While final tallies are not yet in, the event raised more than $30,000, according to Alice Milligan, foundation president and founder.
The profits will be used to purchase new equipment and materials for the Rehabilitation Services Department serving Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC), the Comprehensive Care Center and Lompoc Health – North H Center.
The purchases of the new rehabilitative equipment and materials will greatly improve the department’s ability to care for patients of all functional levels, effectively and efficiently.
“The LVMC Rehabilitation Department is extremely appreciative of the foundation’s generosity,” said Aaron Poirier, rehabilitation services director. “The opportunity to purchase new equipment will immensely improve our ability to provide high quality, innovative, and effective care to the Lompoc community.”
Among the planned purchases are:
A Barihab XS frame, which offers the ability to provide physical assist for low-level patients, and increase the intensity and utilization of skilled services. This will allow patients to recover more quickly and reduce physical workload on staff.
A convertible staircase with a curb/ramp attachment, creating the ability to simulate real world obstacles and improve patients’ function and safety prior to returning to the community.
Speech Therapy Outcome Assessment Toolkits to help staff provide proven and objective assessments to properly assess and provide updated interventions and recommendations related to cognitive and swallowing abilities.
A Cybex Treadmill and Cybex Recumbent bike to allow for advancements in gait analysis and progression of higher-level activity for individuals in the outpatient setting.
The Lompoc Hospital District Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit organization incorporated Sept. 12, 1990 with a goal of promoting health education in the community, raising funds to purchase critically needed technology or equipment and educating the public about the hospital’s services, facilities and programs.
Through its special events, foundation members have raised $3.1 million, with a total fundraising effort of $9.6 million in the past more than quarter-century.
The foundation recently completed a $2 million capital campaign to pay for the renovation of rooms at the Comprehensive Care Center, the skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility run by Lompoc Valley Medical Center.
For more, visit lhdfoundation.org.