Smile Cookie campaign raises $51K for Stratford cancer clinic

Thanks to those who purchased smile cookies from local Tim Hortons, the Stratford General Hospital Foundation gets a boost of more than $51,000 for the cancer and medical care clinic.

The Stratford General Hospital Foundation has a big reason to smile, thanks to the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie fundraiser.

Those who bought smile cookies at Stratford Tim Hortons during Smile Cookie Week helped raised $51,082.87 for the cancer and medical care clinic run by the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) – Stratford General Hospital.

"I can't stop smiling. It's so good that our community comes out and supports initiatives,” said Cheryl Hunt, executive director of the Stratford General Hospital Foundation.

The Stratford General Hospital will use the funds to support the cancer clinic, which was a $15 million project.

Smile cookies were bought between April 27 and May 3. More than 80 volunteers in Stratford dedicated a collective total of 172 hours of their time decorating the smile cookies.

"That's fantastic and that helps with the success our fundraiser,” Hunt said.

The Tim Hortons website notes the Smile Cookie campaign began in 1996 as a fundraiser for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital. Over time, the fundraiser raised more than $150 million for community organizations and charities across Canada.