PORT ANGELES — A fundraiser this weekend for the aquatic therapy pool at Olympic Medical Center Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation brought in more than $14,000, bringing the total raised in the effort to keep the pool operational to more than $41,000.
The event Saturday night at Bar Hop Brewing — “Hog Wild — A Night of Games, Suds and Grub” — was held to help raise the $50,000 needed to purchase a new pool liner and perform other renovations.
“We still hope that people will make donations to the pool fund, as we still need to raise $9,000,” said OMC President Karen Rogers in a Sunday news release.
Presented by Sequim Health and Rehabilitation and Crestwood Health and Rehabilitation, who also made a major donation to the project, the event featured a pig roast, Bar Hop micro brews, several games and music by the band Three Too Many.
The OMC aquatic therapy program and the hydrotherapy pool that anchors it had been scheduled to shut down Sept. 1 for lack of the $50,000 needed for repairs.
OMC officials had said they needed to shut down the pool because of high operating costs and the need to replace the liner.
OMC has frozen capital spending after losing about $1.4 million in 2014.
After hearing of the imminent closure of the therapy pool in early July, an anonymous donor committed to donating $25,000 if the donation is matched.
Because of the donation, OMC Foundation officials are confident they can raise the additional money needed to make improvements to the pool.
The liner is expensive because of the pool’s features, which include an underwater treadmill and an adjustable floor.
The pool is relied on by patients with physical therapy needs such as arthritis and other maladies.
The OMC pool also has trained physical therapy staff to help patients.
The next closest hydrotherapy pool is in Silverdale.
Olympic Medical Center announced at its Aug. 6 board of commissioners meeting that the therapy pool will remain open, and staff are working on a plan for financial stability — one that includes the raised $50,000 for the pool liner — to sustain the therapy pool service.
OMC officials have said they hope to keep the pool open through 2015 by restructuring pool management and increasing the number of users.
Those interested in donating can send checks or make payment by credit card to the OMC Foundation at 928 E Caroline St., Port Angeles, WA 98362, earmarked “Support the Therapy Pool.”
The entire amount of all funds given will be donated to OMC for pool improvements.
