We were pleased to sponsor and attend the annual Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre Volunteer Association’s Spring into Motion Charity Auction & Dinner on Thursday, May 9 at the St. Elias Centre. The event was, as always, well attended, and there were many silent and live auction items for the attendees to bid on. Lawrence Greenspon did a great job as the auctioneer and Marc Dorion, former Paralympic sledge hockey champion for Team Canada, was a wonderful key note speaker.

The Rehabilitation Centre Volunteer Association Dinner raises funds that go directly to help patients at The Rehab Centre purchase items they need for their rehabilitation but for which funding is not available. Dr. Dojeiji,  a physician at The Rehab Centre, also spoke passionately about the needs of her patients and the direct impact that is made by donations and fundraising.

The Rehabilitation Centre has a broad range of patients, including those involved in serious car accidents. Often these individuals are patients first at the Civic Hospital for acute trauma care, after which, they may be moved to the Rehabilitation Centre where they learn new skills to help them reintegrate into their lives. https://www.ottawahospital.on.ca/en/clinical-services/deptpgrmcs/departments/rehabilitation-centre/ Some have suffered serious spinal cord injuries, others very serious brain injuries. In car accident cases, there is funding available to these patients through the accident benefits system. Other patients may lack funding for basic necessities, such as a wheelchair. The Rehabilitation Centre Volunteer Association receives many request for funding of these items. The donations made to the Association and the money raised at fundraising events such as the annual Spring into Motion event, allows the Association to meet the needs of these patients.