One of Sioux Lookout’s favourite fundraisers has just gone through some major upgrades.

The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation’s monthly 50/50 has come out with a revamped draw that promises more competitive ticket packages, more consistent draws, and most importantly, bigger jackpots.

Melissa Slade is the donor relations and operations coordinator for the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation.

She says the revamped 50/50 represents a major “refresh and relaunch” of the beloved fundraiser.

“These are significant changes to the existing draw that will make it more efficient and captivating for the town and surrounding community,” she explains.

The new-and-improved draw officially kicks off on April 4 at 12 p.m.

To make things easier for ticket buyers, and to juice the jackpot even higher, draws will always take place on the same: the first Tuesday of the month.

The foundation is also extending ticket purchase time from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

“This is going to give people a chance to get their kids on the bus, get their morning routine done, and give them a little bit of extra time to get those last-minute tickets if they want to,” Slade explains.

But the change Slade is most excited about is the new ticket prices.

Starting April 4 at 12 p.m., supporters will have three options to buy tickets: 20 tickets for $10, 100 tickets for $20, or the stellar deal of 450 tickets for $50.

Slade says the new pricing options should mean a jackpot that picks up momentum easier and grows bigger, faster.

Under the right circumstances, she says, they hope to see a return to those high-five-figure jackpots of the past.

A vital role in community healthcare

Draw Winner Meequin Angeconeb

Slade hopes the revamped 50/50 draw will help draw more attention to the vital work the Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation is doing.

She says there’s a common misconception that foundations like it exist just to run 50/50 draws for hospitals. While that is a big part of their mission, she says that doesn’t really reflect the true scope of their work.

“Here in Canada, we do have ‘free healthcare,’ but it’s not as free as many people think. There are all kinds of expenses the government doesn’t pay for that communities have to cover themselves,” she says.

“We are here to make sure our community doesn’t fall behind and that we can provide the best treatment, even when government funding doesn’t cover everything.”

The money the foundation raises helps the hospital buy or upgrade life-saving equipment, pay for vital training, and help with capital expenses.

It has already helped fund a new CT scanner, a mammogram machine, and a hematology analyzer.

“All those things the hospital must have to run efficiently, and all those things that are so needed, especially in a small town, to keep people safe and healthy,” Slade says.

Having those machines available locally is a huge deal that “100%” helps save lives, she adds.

Sioux Lookout is a relatively small town, but it also serves a huge swath of northern communities. Having things like a CT scanner or mammogram machine means people aren’t forced to drive hours to Thunder Bay or cross the border to Winnipeg for treatment.

“It just alleviates some of those extra stresses that an already potentially stressful health situation entails. Being able to have these things at your fingertips here, locally, is huge when it comes to follow-up treatment and healthcare,” she says.

To help the foundation continue to do its life-saving work, and to get in early on the new 50/50 draw, visit the foundation online.

Or, say hi to Slade herself when she’s out in the community selling tickets in person at partner businesses.