It鈥檚 official. The new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital is going to be named the David E. Kampe Tower.
The honour comes in recognition of Kampe鈥檚 many good works in the community, which includes over $6.5 million donated to the over the years.
That already considerable amount grew again today with Kampe鈥檚 latest donation of $1.4 million, which will be used for the purchase of a SPECT CT unit. It鈥檚 described as a key piece of nuclear medicine equipment, used mainly for cancer and heart patients, who previously had to travel to 91大黄鸭 for the procedure.
鈥淐ardiac patients wait up to six months for a nuclear medicine scan at KGH,鈥� said Dr. Tracy Chandler, a radiologist at PRH.
Kampe has previously donated for a permanent MRI, along with other donations to the foundation鈥檚 campaign to provide medical equipment for the new patient care tower.
The public has been pressuring for the tower to be named for Kampe. Besides his donations to the hospital, his family business, is a title sponsor of the Peach Festival and also purchases tickets to Vees games so youth can attend for free.
More:
Many of Kampe鈥檚 activities are behind the scenes, but there are few people in Penticton or the South Okanagan that haven鈥檛 been affected by Kampe鈥檚 generosity in some way.
MLA Dan Ashton said he took the request to name the tower for Kampe to the provincial cabinet.
鈥淚t went through cabinet so quick, because everyone knows the outstanding donations of Peters Bros. Construction and specifically David Kampe,鈥� said Ashton, describing Kampe as a man of very few words, but whose incredible generosity is felt throughout this entire part of Southern B.C.
鈥淚鈥檝e known for an awfully long time how Mr. Kampe doesn鈥檛 like to be front and centre. He鈥檚 always there when people are in need, or kids need a hand with sports and there is never any recognition,鈥� said Ashton.
Chris Mazurkewich, chief executive officer for Interior Health, said he had a chance to talk to Kampe about his life. Kampe grew up in poverty in Summerland in the 1940s, but with his successful business ventures over the years, the owner of Peters Bros. has focused on giving back to those in need, families and the community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite an amazing story, but through that, the generosity he has given back to the community and his love for the community comes through. He鈥檚 been giving over the years very generously, not just to the hospital and the community at large,鈥� said Mazurkewich.
The new PRH tower will be ready for patients by early 2019, at which time construction will begin on Phase 2 鈥� a major expansion of the hospital鈥檚 Emergency Department.
