A big day for health and wellness initiatives in Okotoks and the Foothills as the Sheep River Health Trust presented 7 different cheques to local organizations with funds from the annual Together We Make A Difference Radiothon in Partnership with The Eagle 100.9 yesterday.

The Rowan House Emergency Shelter received $3,730, the Turner Valley Legacy Park received $3,500, Integrated Home Care received $3,000, Foothills SNAPS received $3,000, It Takes A Village Okotoks Community Foundation received $3,000, Kidsport Okotoks received $2,500, and the Okotoks Health Centre and Oilfields Hospital received $34,000.

Kathy Thornhill, President of Foothills Special Needs Association for Parents and Siblings (Foothills SNAPS), says the extra funding will help support many children in the community.

"We received funding towards our facilitator training sessions for our program called SIP Shops," she says. "SIP Shops is a program for siblings of special needs children, it's a very lively pedal to the metal program. We talk about the positives of having special needs siblings, and sometimes the not so positive feelings, but everything is ok to discuss there. We do games, outings, crafts, it's really fun, it's a celebration of being a sibling."

Thornhill says Foothills SNAPS are very thankful for anything that helps families be healthier in Okotoks, and are grateful for all contributions.

Leah Sampson Founding President of It Takes A Village Okotoks Community Foundation, shares the donation from SRHT will help infants have a safe place to sleep.

"We received $3,000 for our Baby Sleep Safe program, which enables us to provide cribs for children in need in the Foothills area," she says. "We have children in our community that are sleeping in cardboard boxes, and on mattresses on the floor, so every crib we can get out makes a difference."

Sampson adds how grateful It Takes A Village Okotoks is for the donation, she says without these funds the Baby Sleep Safe program would not exist.

"I'd like to thank everybody who contributed to the Radiothon, without these funds and contributions our community would not be as well off as it is today."

Sheep River Health Trust Representative Tanya Thorn says this was the fourth year for the Radiothon, and over time the event has seen significant growth.

"Our first year we were just over $28,000, and this year we were over $57,000," she explains. "Our community and sponsors really buy into the event, one of the key things we here from recipients and donors is they like to be able to give to the radiothon because we support such a wide range of people."

The 2017 Together We Make A Difference Radiothon raised $57,275 for community organizations.

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