Now that the work has begun on the expansion of the High River Community Cancer Centre at the High River Hospital, the local health care foundation is shifting its focus.

The High River and District Health Care Foundation has launched Phase 2 of its Keeping Our OR Active campaign.

Executive Director of the Foundation, Michael Brown says the three operating rooms are being used five days a week, all day long.

"In general that's a change, they used to be able to shut down at Christmas time, they used to shut down in the summer time and there's certainly surgeons keen to use it and limiting factor seems to be the equipment available so that's where we're stepping up," Brown says.

He says a lot of the procedures done now are laproscopic, meaning monitors, computer processors and surgical scopes are used a lot.

"The things we're going to be purchasing includes the two complete computer system, which are computer towers, a bunch of scopes for surgical testing, different types of scopes so we can do those here, and one of the limiting factors on scopes is the turnaround time having to get them sterilized each time, so the more you have the more you can do," he says. "At the same time we're going to be upgrading the sterilization equipment."

They hope to raise $340,000 and the High River Hospital Auxiliary has already donated pledged to donate $72,000.

He says they won't be doing a specific mail out to bring in donations but money raised through this year's dinner and auction October 22, will go to the campaign as will proceeds from Cargill's annual Fred Free golf tournament.

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