JDI Dragon Boat teams help raise funds for new eye laser equipment for St. Joseph's Hospital

JDI has long been involved with the annual Dragon Boat Festival, which is the [St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s] major fund-raising event.

On Thursday, February 7, 2013, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to mark the arrival of the new Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) at St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic in Saint John, NB.  The SLT equipment was this year’s purchase with the funds raised from the 2012 Dragon Boat Festival.

The SLT is used to treat patients with glaucoma.  The laser helps lower the pressure in the eye by increasing the eye’s ability to drain fluid.  Vision loss due to glaucoma is permanent and cannot be reversed.  Early intervention will mean a brighter future for approximately 400 patients each year.

JDI Information Technology Division’s “Digital Dragons” and Atlantic Towing’s “Blue Bayou” teams have raised $100,000 collectively since being involved with this worthy cause.  In 2012 the ITD Digital Dragons were recognized as being the top fund-raising team, raising over $16,000.  They have been one of the top three fund raisers for the last three years.

NB Southern Railway lends its support by providing a train to shuttle participants to and from the event, and there are many other teams and supporters throughout the J.D. Irving, Limited group of companies.  The success of any fundraiser is dependent on donations, and the success of JDI’s Dragon Boat teams is due in large part to the generosity of the staff at JDI and its affiliates.