Starting tomorrow until April 30, residents within the City of Calgary will be contacted via telephone to encourage their participation as donors to the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society. The Society is a non-profit organization that supports improved outcomes and quality of life for burn survivors and individuals affected by other severe skin injuries. Learn more about the Society (link).
To achieve this vision, Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society invests in advancements in burn treatment, research, awareness, care and education.
Their commitment to both innovation in burn care happening at the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centre at Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Burn Camp in the support of kids facing stigmas attached to their burns has changed the lives of hundreds. Curt Minard is one of those:
“In September 2008, a day seemingly like any other, I went to work. The difference was this day a series of errors were made that led to me being electrocuted with 14,400 volts, at a magnitude of 5 amps. I spent the next 9 weeks in the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centre [at Foothills Medical Centre] with many complications and a total of 10 surgeries.” Following a series of medical complications due to his burns Curt went into depression.
“Everything I knew had changed forever. This was when the Calgary Burn Survivors group became a staple in my recovery. I started attending meetings and was able to meet many burn survivors just like me, sharing stories and struggles. I was given the opportunity from the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society to attend a World Burn Survivors Congress seminar in New York City. This is when I really started to accept my disability and was able to be “me” again. I met burn survivors from all over North America that suffered many different burn injuries and realized there was hope for me.”
Since 2015, the Calgary Firefighter Burn Treatment Society has committed $2M in a research Chair for skin rejuvenation and wound healing; they’ve invested over $8M in burn care and survivor support through Calgary Health Trust; and supplied hundreds of volunteer hours alongside their financial investment for Alberta’s Burn Camp.
“We are incredibly grateful to our donors for their support in helping burn survivors live their best life,” says Jim Fisher, President of the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society.
This donor campaign is one of many fundraising campaigns held by the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society. This year the goal is to raise $500,000.
The Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society is completely run by volunteers and works in collaboration with the charity Calgary Health Trust in their philanthropic efforts and campaigns. The Society is run independently from the City of Calgary Fire Department.
While the telephone campaign helps the Society achieve its fundraising goals and educate the public on its work, the Society is also encouraging the public to be smart about giving out personal information if they believe the call to be suspicious.
If at any point you are uncomfortable providing financial information during the call, you can ask for a pledge letter to be sent to your address or make your donation online. Callers on behalf of the Society will always identify themselves by name and work for a reputable company they will also identify.
All donations eligible for tax receipting will be receipted through Calgary Health Trust.
For more information about Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society, go to cfbts.org or call 403-701-BURN.
The Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society (CFBTS) is a registered non-profit charity organization supported by 1400+ professional Calgary Firefighters. We are comprised of a 5 member Executive supported by a Board of Directors and numerous other volunteers. The vision of the CFBTS is to support initiatives that will improve outcomes and quality of life for burn survivors and individuals affected by other severe skin injuries.
Calgary Health Trust raises money to advance health care within Calgary. Funds raised benefit Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus, many community health programs and 12 Carewest care centres in our community. For more information about Calgary Health Trust visit calgaryhealthtrust.ca.
