Trenton Memorial Hospital will celebrate 75 years of serving the community with an anniversary gala Oct. 17 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton.
The event, hosted by the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, begins at 6 p.m. and will feature music, dancing and an evening of celebration. Guests are encouraged to wear cocktail or formal attire.
Lindsay Butcher-Dodds, executive director of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, has been in her role for three years and has been associated with the foundation for six years. Lindsay says their fundraisers are absolutely critical as a means of purchasing badly needed new equipment to keep the hospital current and remain viable.
Butcher-Dodds makes the point that even a small donation that might not seem like a lot goes a very long way toward their ultimate goal of keeping the hospital properly equipped.
The hospital has a storied history in the region. It officially opened Feb. 25, 1951, after local service clubs helped launch the project in the 1940s. The Lions and Rotary clubs purchased nine acres for $1,000, with the original hospital estimated to cost $275,000.
Today, the hospital handles tens of thousands of patient visits each year. In 2024, it recorded more than 33,000 emergency department visits, 54,000 ambulatory visits and 46,000 diagnostic procedures.
Butcher-Dodds estimates that close to $2.5 million worth of new equipment is needed, and her team of five is constantly striving to find ways to achieve this daunting goal, with an amazing degree of success.
The anniversary celebrations also include a “75 Years of Brilliance” raffle featuring a $9,100 diamond tennis bracelet. Only 300 tickets are being sold, with the draw scheduled for 9 p.m. during the gala.
The evening features a three-course meal, local entertainment and plenty of opportunities to win raffle prizes throughout the evening.
Tickets are $250 each, and additional information is available through the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation website at TMHFoundation.com.
(Written by: Richard Evans)
