The Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority honoured the participants in the Victoria Hospital Pink Glove Dance Contest entry during the regular board meeting Nov. 9 in Prince Albert.
"On behalf of the board of directors, congratulations to our staff, physicians, volunteers and everyone involved in producing a video that has touched so many people," said Gord Dobrowolsky, RHA board chairperson. "We are very proud of your efforts in producing a video that tells the story of a patient, and highlights all of the health care providers who are part of her care team.
"In particular, thank you to Valerie Isbister, a cancer survivor who was the main character in the video, and to Jennifer Maczek, the choreographer, to Big Drum Media, and to Sharon Griffin, director of Acute Care, for leading this project with enthusiasm and passion."
Medline, the company that makes the pink gloves and sponsors of the Pink Glove Dance Contest, donated $2,000 to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency - Saskatoon Cancer Clinic. In addition, Prince Albert Canadian Tire store owner Malcolm Jenkins matched the donation with a $4,000 donation of his own.
"We are touched by the generosity and support of staff, doctors and volunteers from Prince Albert Parkland," said Scott Livingstone, CEO of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. "This donation will help draw attention to how together we can improve the health of people in the province through breast cancer awareness, prevention and early detection."
Sponsored by Medline - the creator of the YouTube sensation Pink Glove Dance and maker of the pink gloves - the national competition included 139 video submissions from hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other organizations from 40 states and Canada. In all, more than 17,000 people were featured in the videos, which are all available for viewing at www.pinkglovedance.com.
The Victoria Hospital video has been viewed more than 85,000 times on YouTube, and received more than 38,000 votes through Facebook accounts. Victoria Hospital's winning video features hundreds of hospital staff, and followed the story of a breast cancer survivor, with participants dancing in pink gloves to Katy Perry's hit song "Firework". It finished in third place in the contest. Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, S.C., won first place and Highland Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., won second place.
