Ground was broken at the future site for Jeneece Place at Victoria General Hospital.
Once an idea, Jeneece EdroffB次元官网网址檚 dream is now on its way to becoming tangible. The doors of a home-away-from-home for families with a child at VGH should be open by Christmas.
At the building site, Edroff, 17, sat in the backhoe with an operator to commemorate the ceremony. In a sea of white hard hats, EdroffB次元官网网址檚 was bright pink.
B次元官网网址淏ecause you have the only different coloured hard hat on, shows you are the one running the show,B次元官网网址� said Ida Chong, minister of community, sport and cultural development.
Jeneece Place, once built, will be located on the grounds of the VGH with eight rooms to accommodate families who need to travel to Victoria for care at the hospital. It will also have a kitchen, living, dining and play areas.
In 2008 and 2009, more than 1,000 kids and youth from outside Victoria were admitted to VGH, and stayed an average of 6.5 days. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not only going to be a structure, but it will meet the needs of families,B次元官网网址� Chong said.
After thanking everyone for their support in making her dream B次元官网网址渂elievable,B次元官网网址� Edroff announced B次元官网网址渨e are still a little shortB次元官网网址� in terms of donations.
Prior to this event Edroff said about $4 million had been raised towards the project. Another $750,000 was donated during the ceremony in cash and in-kind donations by corporations, local businesses and non-profits groups. The project will cost an estimated $5.5 million.
B次元官网网址淭his has been (almost three) years in the making and IB次元官网网址檝e heard that is very fast for Vancouver Island,B次元官网网址� Edroff said.
Edroff was acknowledged by many at the ceremony and thanked for all her hard work. B次元官网网址淵ou have made a difference young lady ... on behalf of this town, we salute you,B次元官网网址� said Royal View Mayor Graham Hill.
Don Hubbard, Vancouver Island Health Authority board chair, said the future site of Jeneece Place is a B次元官网网址減erfect location.B次元官网网址� He referenced VGH having the largest pediatric care unit on Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淗aving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I know parents will travel any distance to get their children care,B次元官网网址� Hubbard said. B次元官网网址淭he opportunity to walk to a childB次元官网网址檚 bedside in a momentB次元官网网址檚 notice is an incredible thing.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment echoed by Edroff. At age three she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a condition where tumors grow on nerve pathways. Over her life she has had numerous surgeries and travels to Vancouver often for care.
B次元官网网址淚t means so much to have a place to stay when you are in hospital,B次元官网网址� Edroff said. B次元官网网址淏eing close to the hospital is better than being 10 minutes away.B次元官网网址�
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