A hospital music therapy program hit a high note Saturday, when Canadian country artist Gord Bamford made a donation to the tune of $10,000.
"In the last couple years, we've gone right across the country to Childrens' Hospitals and donated a substantial amount of money, and had a chance to try and make an impact on the kids," said Bamford.
"It's been very rewarding and very humbling, and one of the best experiences of my life for sure," he said
Bamford’s donation supports the Child Life Music Therapy program, offered at the Children’s Hospital of Manitoba, to help patients and families cope.
"(The program) is a way to reduce anxiety, ease adjustment into the hospital setting and reduces the perception of pain while encouraging avenues of coping and communication,” Lawrence Prout, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, said in an email statement.
CHFM provides a grant to the music therapy program, which was the first program of its kind and founded in 1998.
Last year, the hospital’s music therapist, Cecilia Bellingham had more than 2,400 interactions with children and their families.
Bellingham provides therapy sessions on a weekly basis and offers various ways for patients and families to use music as a positive outlet.
Saturday's donation was made through the Gord Bamford foundation.
