The 800 CHAB Radiothon is approaching fast, hoping to raise $195,000 for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation. The radiothon lasts 36 hours and will be done live at centre court at the Town 'N Country Mall.

Which takes us to Moose Jaw resident and Central graduate, Dr. Caitlyn Howe.

Howe grew up in Moose Jaw and went to the University of Saskatchewan after highschool to pursue a degree in anatomy and cell biology. She then went on to attend the college of medicine.

Following 10 years of post-secondary, Dr. Howe decided to come back to the friendly city to practice.

"We have an incredible residency training program here." says Howe, "The doctors are phenomenal, they are excited, they do a great job at teaching. Our community is so welcoming and so lovely too, and also my whole family lives here, so it's nice to be around them and have my mom stop by to visit."

With the help of donors, this year's radiothon is hoping to donate enough money to help the Moose Jaw Health Foundation purchase a new defibrillator and crash cart, chemotherapy chairs, cardiac monitors, a telemetry system, and a Holter monitor.

Dr. Howe explains what exactly a telemetry system is, and why it's so important.

"We can monitor somebody who is in the hospital and monitor their heartbeat 24/7. Not everybody's heart rate is irregular or abnormal all the time, sometimes it only happens occasionally. If we can't catch it, it's hard to treat. We can better respond with a telemetry system if something dangerous happens to their heart."

Caitlyn Howe was also given a Rescue Recognition Award in 2017, presented by the Lifesaving Society, after saving a man's life at the Queen City Marathon after he went into cardiac arrest. 

The radiothon theme this year is "Health Care Heroes" and one of those heroes is a long-time local surgeon, Dr. George Miller.

Miller has been an advocate for the radiothon since day one.

"It's amazing how generous Moose Jaw is. I know these are tough times, everybody is worried about income, their job, and all the rest of it, but the money that we raise goes directly to the people who need it a little more than we do. If you can find it in your hearts and your wallets to be able to give, please give what you can."

Since the radiothon started in 2006, it has raised over $4.1 million for the local health foundation.