Bluewater Health Foundation to welcome New York Times bestselling author Amanda Lindhout to Sarnia

Bluewater Health Foundation is excited to announce that Amanda Lindhout will headline as keynote speaker at their annual gala on Thursday, October 11 at the Dante Club.

“The Foundation’s annual gala has allowed us to bring incredible keynote speakers to our community for many years to great success, and we’re excited to continue that tradition by welcoming Amanda Lindhout this year,” says Kathy Alexander, Executive Director, Bluewater Health Foundation. “Storytelling is a big focus of the work that we do in the Foundation and Amanda’s story of resilience and survival is one that will resonate with our community.”

The Foundation is pleased to once again receive the support of presenting sponsor NGL Supply Co. Ltd.

“NGL Supply Co. Ltd. is proud to sponsor this year’s gala in support of the important work of the Mammography Department at Bluewater Health,” says David Palmer, Chief Commercial Operator, NGL Supply Co. Ltd. “We are thrilled to be able to once again partner with Bluewater Health Foundation and help welcome Amanda Lindhout and her inspiring message to our community.”

Lindhout’s story made international headlines in 2008 when she was abducted by a group of masked men along while on assignment as a journalist in Somalia. Lindhout was held hostage for 460 days and survived on her strategy, fortitude and hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

A bestselling author, Lindhout’s multiple award-winning memoir of her experience in Somalia, A House in the Sky, has been on The Globe and Mail’s ‘Top Ten Bestsellers’ list for a record-breaking three and a half years. The book is now being made into a film by Hollywood production company Annapurna Pictures (Zero Dark Thirty, Her, American Hustle, Joy, Foxcatcher), with Oscar-nominated actress Rooney Mara playing the role of Amanda.

An internationally renowned speaker, Lindhout has shared stages with such luminaries as Bill Clinton and Richard Branson. She has visited over 90 countries to share her story, captivating audiences as large as 25,000 people. She has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times Magazine, Dateline, The Today Show, Morning Joe and Anderson Cooper among other popular media.

Since 2013, the Foundation’s annual gala has successfully raised over $300,000 for important initiatives and departments at Bluewater Health. Proceeds from the gala this year will benefit the important work of Bluewater Health’s Mammography Department, and specifically assist in the purchase of new equipment.

The department provides over 12,000 mammograms a year to women in Sarnia-Lambton and surrounding counties. Hardworking technicians and volunteers aim to create an environment where patients feel as comfortable as possible. Such as is for all technology, new innovation provides enhanced features and improved performance. Bluewater Health’s current mammography equipment is nearing the end of its lifespan and, as a result, the Mammography Department has experienced increased downtime.

To improve patient experience, two mammography machines, one of which will be equipped with new innovations like tomosynthesis and contrast enhanced imaging, need to be purchased. In addition, this equipment will be more ergonomically friendly and provide a more comfortable experience for patients during tests.

“One in eight women will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer in their lives. It is routine mammograms and, ultimately, early diagnosis that remain the first line of defense against breast cancer. That’s why having current equipment that is in good working order is critical to providing accurate diagnosis,” says Dr. Youssef Almalki, Medical Director, Diagnostic Imaging, Bluewater Health. “The equipment we are purchasing will be more ergonomically friendly and provide a more comfortable experience for patients during tests. These new machines will keep us on the cutting edge of early detection and accurate diagnosis.”

In addition to Lindhout’s keynote speech, the gala will include a five-course meal, live auction, and musical entertainment.

Tickets are $250 each and are on sale now at Bluewater Health Foundation in person or by calling 519-464-4408. Each ticket includes a charitable tax receipt for $100. Information regarding sponsorship opportunities is available by contacting Adelle Stewardson, Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator, at 519-464-4439 or [email protected].