By Thomas Smith
Kim Restivo Galea, longtime cottager of Davis Lake, has been a resident of the Kinmount area for the past eight years.
“My mother was one of the first patients of Dr. Mihu,” said Galea. “She was very involved with Journey for Health.”
This year will mark the 27th anniversary of the Journey for Health.
On Aug. 10, the Kinmount District Health Services Foundation will be hosting their annual Journey for Health event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Austin Sawmill Heritage Park.
Every year, the owners of the Kinmount Pharmacy, Sam and Martina Iskandar, will match up to $1,500 in a donation to the Kinmount and District Health Services Foundation. When Galea started collecting pledges in her mom’s memory 21 years ago, her goal was $1,500 and has been increasing every year since, personally raising just over $7500 last year.
All of the money that is collected through the Journey for Health goes back to the foundation, to support the Kinmount & District Health Centre, helping to fund doctor recruitment and retention, as well as facility/equipment improvements, and offering educational outreach programs to our community.
Dr. Van Der Leden is the newest addition to the health centre, joining Dr. Ponraja. The addition of Dr. Van Der Leden has allowed more community members to finally have a family physician, but there is still a need for a third doctor. Galea says over 3,000 signed on to the waitlist when Dr. Van Der Leden joined the health centre.
Due to a shortage of local physicians, Galea says that the foundation has been forced to recruit doctors from outside of Canada.
“Recruiting and retention is a very expensive endeavour,” said Galea.
She estimates that it costs around $50,000 to $60,000 to bring a new doctor to Kinmount. Everything from recruitment, assisting with paperwork, to settling them in all costs a pretty penny.
It is not for a lack of space, says Galea. There is certainly enough room for a third doctor to practice out of the space.
The Journey for Health is a walk and community event, designed for entire families to participate.
Participants can walk, bike, or jog along the rail trail towards the bridge over Crego Creek, enjoy the Lions Club’s pancake breakfast by donation, face painting, games with our local firefighters,health services info booths and a chance to win great draw prizes.
Galea estimates that more than 100 participants joined for last year’s Journey for Health, raising over $16,000, surpassing the $13,000 raised in 2023.
“Our target is always to surpass the year before,” said Galea.
While the event has been taking place for well over 25 years, Galea says increasing awareness is always a challenge, with some local residents and cottagers still just learning of the event.
Located at the crossroads of Trent Lakes, Haliburton County, and the City of Kawarthas Lakes, the health centre services the three regions. With the gargantuan demand, a third doctor is desperately needed.
“In five years time, I would love to see the health centre being a very busy health hub,” said Galea.
