JDI partners with community to fund New Brunswick health care innovation

J.D. Irving Limited is connecting with the community to choose this year's Lion’s Den Community Choice Winner, in support of health care innovation in New Brunswick. 

Lions' Den is the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation’s medical research competition, inspired by the CBC's Dragons' Den. This year, the competition takes the shape of a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring the journeys of three teams of medical professionals competing to win half a million-dollar prize to fund their project. 

But the Lions won't be the only judges. J.D. Irving, Limited is the proud sponsor of a $75,000 Community Choice Award, which will give the community the opportunity to have their say, and play a role in how we improve health care in New Brunswick. Donors will be offered the chance to vote for who they think deserves the award, with their donations going directly to their team of choice.

The ideas include improving the speed and accuracy of drug detection with the purchase of a tandem mass spectrometer, an imaging enhancement centre where clinicians can hold 3D-printed replicas of the body parts they'll be working on, and enhanced lung cancer care for patients at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

The public will be able to cast their votes online at thegive.ca/lionsden, beginning September 10 with the film's premiere. No matter who wins, your gift will support your team. Voting will remain open until the community matches J.D. Irving, Limited’s $75,000 lead gift and the team with the most votes wins.

Want to watch from home? Stream it for free at thegive.ca/lionsden