As Radio NL first reported, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation has come through with a major donation for the Neo-Natal Unit (NICU) at Royal Inland Hospital.

“The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation is grateful to be the recipient of a $70,000 gift from the Sandra Schmirler Foundation in support of Royal Inland Hospital’s (RIH) Rita C. Mercier Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU),” said the Foundation in a release.

“The Rita C. Mercier NICU would like to extend and immense thank you to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation for their incredibly generous donation,” said Ashley Watson, NICU Clinical Practice Educator.  “This gift will be used to ensure that we are able to continue to provide excellent care to our most vulnerable population and their families.”

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created to honour the legacy of Sandra Schmirler, a three-time world curling champion and Olympic gold medalist who tragically lost her life to cancer at the age of 36.

Inspired by Sandra’s commitment to family and loving heart, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created to ensure that babies born too soon, too small or too sick have the chance to grow up to be a champion like Sandra.

“As the Tournament Capital of Canada, Kamloops is thrilled to be hosting the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, said RHI Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman.  “We are truly honoured that the Sandra Schmirler Foundation has chosen us to be the recipient of their generous gift of $70,000 to benefit the Rita C. Mercier Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Royal Inland hospital.  These funds will help us ensure that the highly skilled NICU team of physicians, nurses and allied health professionals have the equipment they need to deliver exceptional care to every newborn they treat.”