Ajax Downs own Picov family, along with Quarter Racing owners, bring substantial donations to MRI campaign

For Lynda Picov, the need for an MRI machine close to home is one she understands personally. Having travelled to Buffalo once for a necessary test herself, she knows how long wait times are in the province and what that can do to a patient looking for results.

So, both she and her husband Norm were very happy to get involved and make a major gift to the Image is Everything campaign in support of bringing an MRI machine to Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital. On Dec. 8, the couple brought a cheque for $100,000 for the campaign, the largest donation to-date in the campaign so far.

“It has never been a question of whether or not to support this,” she says. “We have two sons that live in the area with young families and they may need this someday.”

Mr. Picov agrees and adds that he’s proud to live in Ajax and he is especially proud of the hospital.

“We remember this hospital when it was small,” he explains. “This is a fine community and for the size, we offer so much.”

Approached earlier this year about the campaign, they turned to the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, Inc. (QROOI) to help them support the campaign and that lead to the very successful Free Family Day at the Races, held in August. Designed as an event to raise awareness for quarter racing and for the Image is Everything campaign, everyone involved agreed it was a wonderful day and went beyond expectations for attendance and the amount of fun everyone had.

As a result of that event, joining the Picovs on Dec. 8 to make a donation as well was Bob Broadstock, President of QROOI, who presented an amazing cheque for more than $20,000 in addition to the Picovs’ gift. Mr. Broadstock explained that the Free Family Day at the Races was just the start of what they hope will be an annual event that they can build on next year. He described it as the classic win-win scenario for QROOI and the Foundation.

I want to make it a huge day. This year’s was one of the best days at the track in 40 years with the kids having fun and all the interaction,” Mr. Broadstock says. “Then the flipside of that is seeing the benefit, the warm and fuzzy side of it, when you realize you’re doing something that helps people.”

To read more about the donations, check out the Ajax News Advertiser report online at http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/168153.