The Yukon Hospital Foundation launched the 2011 Northwestel Festival of Trees last Thursday evening with the Capstone Mining Corp. Business After Hours Humbug Cocktail Party. The event took place in the Yukon government main administration building.

The evening was set amongst 16 glittering trees – sponsored and decorated by community organizations and downtown businesses. It marked the opening of the 10-day festival, which raises funds and awareness for the purchase of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner for Whitehorse General Hospital.

"Thanks to the Northwestel Festival of Trees and the year-round support of all our incredible donors, partners and volunteers, we are halfway to our goal to purchase this state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment for our hospital,” said foundation chair Darrell Stone.

One year into its three-year fundraising campaign, the foundation has raised $1 million toward its $2-million goal to purchase the MRI.

The benefits of an MRI to patients and medical staff are enormous. They include significantly reduced wait times, a reduction in the costs and stress associated with patients travelling Outside for this diagnostic test and more opportunities for the recruitment of medical and support staff.

At present, approximately 500 Yukon patients are sent out to southern urban centres each year for an MRI scan and face an average wait time of six months for a non-critical MRI which,with the planned purchase, will be reduced to a matter of weeks.

"The Yukon Hospital Foundation is proud to work with Northwestel and all our community partners on this groundbreaking MRI campaign,” said Stone. "At the conclusion of this campaign, the Yukon will be the only Canadian jurisdiction North of 60 with an MRI scanner providing Yukon residents with the very best health care possible – right here close to home.”

The Festival of Trees will run until Saturday.