Mining for Miracles ("M4M"), BC's mining community's longstanding fundraising campaign for BC Children's Hospital Foundation, celebrated the official opening of the Child & Family Research Imaging Facility at BC Children's Hospital earlier this week. The 2009-2010 M4M campaigns provided $1.3 million to complete the imaging facility, which includes a state-of-the-art 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner supported by federal and provincial funding to the neuroscience research team. The scanner enables researchers to deepen their understanding of childhood brain development and how children are affected by brain disorders. It will also help them to evaluate new therapies for protecting the brain, as well as advance their work in other areas of child health.
 

"Supporting world-class researchers, physicians and caregivers with cutting-edge technology to improve the diagnosis and treatment of children is a privilege for the Mining for Miracles campaign and for BC's mining industry," says Colin Joudrie, Co-Chair of the 2012 Mining for Miracles Campaign. "Our $1.3-million fundraising commitment and partnership with the Child & Family Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, and project leads Dr. Steven Miller and Dr. Ken Poskitt, has been successful, informative, rewarding and fun – yes, fun. Dr. Miller and Dr. Poskitt each took a pie in the face for the kids of BC at the Teck Celebrity Pie Throw, a signature fundraiser supporting Mining for Miracles. We thank them and the entire research institute team for their professionalism and dedication."
 

"The Child & Family Research Imaging Facility is an important resource that was created by a vibrant team of neuroscience investigators on this campus," says Dr. Bruce Bjornson, Associate Clinician Scientist and Associate Head of the Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health Research Cluster at the Child & Family Research Institute. Dr. Bjornson is a Pediatric Neurologist and Director of the Brain Mapping Centre at BC Children's Hospital, and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia. He also took a pie in the face at the Pie Throw. "It is a magnet for new discoveries that will ultimately improve the health of infants and children in BC and beyond."

The Child & Family Research Imaging Facility is a University of British Columbia and Child & Family Research Institute project hosted by the Provincial Health Services Authority on the campus of BC Children's Hospital, BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre and the BC Mental Health & Addictions Research Institute.

With more than $20 million raised for BC Children's Hospital over the past 25 years, BC's mining industry is making an impactful difference in the lives of kids and families across the province.
 

About Mining for Miracles

Since 1988, Mining for Miracles ("M4M") has raised over $20 million for BC Children's Hospital. Every year, volunteers from the mining community work together to help improve the quality of health care for children in our province. One hundred per cent of funds raised through M4M go toward specific projects at BC Children's Hospital. Through its support of the construction of facilities and acquisition of specialized medical equipment at the hospital, Mining for Miracles is helping to keep BC Children's Hospital at the forefront of pediatric care excellence. For more information, visit www.miningformiracles.ca.