The Sheep River Health Trust has had an incredible run over the holidays.  They've been hosting Christmas events and fundraising for health and wellness initiatives around the Foothills.

This year the Sheep River Health Trust has held events like the Avenue of Trees, Mistletoe Market, Silent Auctions and Photo's with Santa.  

Numbers are up this year, Tanya Thorn with the Sheep River Health Trust says:

"Although I don't have a net number yet, our Gross number is just over $45,000." Thorn says "That gross amount is up about $9000 from last year."

The funds raised will continue to go towards supporting health and wellness initiatives in the Foothills.

The Sheep River Health Trust currently supports the Oilfields Hospital in Black Diamond and  the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre.  Thorn says the money is spent in a number of different ways.

"We support the Oilfields Hospital, and the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre in terms of different programs that run in those buildings and in terms of medical equipment." Thorn says "We also support a lot of health and wellness programs in the region like school meals and adult day support."

The most popular Christmas event this year seemed like the Avenue of Trees!  Participants decorated trees and then they were auctioned off.  Some donors bought trees just to donate them to local charities or families in need.  16 Foothills families received fully decorated trees this year.  Some families were nominated by local churches, and the Sheep River Health Trust worked together with other local charities to find those most in need.

Tanya Thorn tells us who their partners were this year.

"We've worked with the Okotoks Food Bank, and had them select some families, Magic of Christmas, One of our donors picked S.N.A.P.S, and Rowan House also received a tree for families spending Christmas with them."

Thorn also said that applications for health and wellness funding will open again in the new year.


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