Donor Stories

Through generous community support, the Lois Hole Hospital for Women has become a leading centre for Women's Health in Canada. Donations from individuals and organizations that place a high value on the health of our community have helped build this hospital from the ground up. Here are some of their stories.

Gillian Horwitz

Gillian Horwitz has a very personal reason for supporting the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, one that is turning tragedy into triumph.

After her daughter Terry passed away from breast cancer in 2008, Gillian launched a personal campaign that not only raises funds for a cause she holds dear, but serves as a way to honour Terry’s memory.

Gillian has been a dedicated member of the Community Outreach Committee on the Lois Hole Hospital for Women Campaign since 2006. Her enthusiasm is quite contagious, something that has been appreciated by all of the Community Outreach Committee members.

What started out as a simple volunteer commitment became something more personal for Gillian after she lost her daughter. "Terry was always interested in my involvement with the Lois Hole Hospital for Women," explains Gillian. "She fully supported its philosophy and she completely understood the value that a facility of this calibre would mean to women. Since Terry passed away, the Lois Hole Hospital – and the hope it represents – is more important to me than ever."

In the spring of 2009, Gillian resolved to ensure that Terry’s struggle with breast cancer was not in vain. She approached the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation with the idea of organizing a walk in honour of Terry, with proceeds supporting the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. Instead, she found an existing event – CIBC’s Run for the Cure – that would meet her goals.

After a passionate recruitment campaign over the summer, more than 180 people registered as members of The Terry Horwitz Team for the 2009 Run for the Cure. Gillian was delighted with the response and proudly led the team on the 5K walk through the streets of Edmonton on October 4.

For some, this would have been enough of an effort, but Gillian is only getting started. Her goal is to have a room named in Terry’s honour in the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.

To date, Gillian’s efforts have raised more than $20,000 towards that goal.

Edmonton Eskimos Women’s Dinner

For three years in a row, the Edmonton Eskimos Women have staged an annual dinner that delivers a night of unforgettable entertainment and raises funds for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.

The Eskimos Women’s Dinner raises money for ovarian cancer research. Female staff and the wives of staff, coaches and players are all involved in the charity event, which honours the memory of former Eskimo staffer Pam Monastyrskyj, who succumbed to ovarian cancer after a lengthy and hard fought battle.

"A lot of important new research into the cancer that took our friend Pam will happen at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women,” says Joan Forge, Chair of the Edmonton Eskimos Women’s Dinner. “We're honoured to say that Pam will now have her name forever attached to this outstanding facility through the naming of a patient room."

The Edmonton Eskimos Women have pledged $100,000 in total.

"No matter what happens during the game, the Eskimos are winners both on and off the field and Edmonton is a richer place because of this community mindedness,” says Lynn Mandel, Lois Hole Hospital for Women Community Outreach Chair. "My hat is off to them for ensuring their fans understand that excellence in women's health is important to the health of our city."