In April 2024, Hospitals of Regina Foundation launched a $2.5 million Cardiac Care Campaign to upgrade the second of two catheterization labs (cath labs) at the Regina General Hospital, along with a $1 million community match from Municipal Hail Insurance. Young’s Equipment was among the first to step forward to offer their support, and double their impact, with a $100,000 gift.

A 2019 US study tracked the cause of death for farm workers between 1994 and 2019, concluding that 70 per cent of farmer deaths were related to heart disease. Researchers have theorized this may be connected to the long work hours, lifestyle and physical exertion. After hearing about this research and the potential impact of heart disease on our farming community, Young’s Equipment jumped on board with this significant contribution.

“We all know farming can be a stressful occupation but after hearing about the correlation to heart disease, we knew we had to help”, says Sean Young, assistant general manager of the family-operated Young’s Equipment. “We’ve partnered with Hospitals of Regina Foundation before and the opportunity to have our gift matched by Municipal Hail Insurance made this decision an easy one.”

Our cath lab interventional cardiologists diagnose and treat coronary artery disease – critical heart problems related to the blockage of blood vessels to the heart – helping thousands of people in our community. The first cath lab was upgraded in 2020. The Foundation will now upgrade the second cath lab through our new cardiac campaign.

According to Dr. Rodney Zimmerman, director of the cardiac catheterization labs at the Regina General Hospital, approximately 70 per cent of patients seen in the cath labs live outside of Regina. With access to the most current technology, and the talented doctors it allows us to attract and retain, many of these patients go on to live fulfilling lives. Given the dangers cardiac disease poses to people in Saskatchewan, including thousands of farmers across our province, excellent cardiac care is a crucial component of health care for our community.

“We are very grateful for Young’s Equipment and their partnership on this important project”, says Dino Sophocleous, president and CEO, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “As a successful business and important part of the agriculture sector, they immediately saw the need to support this campaign and double their impact, to help us invest in the best cardiac care possible for our southern Saskatchewan community.”