Sudbury PET scanner fundraising finally complete

Two anonymous donors contributed $500,000 each to cap off the fundraising drive that will see a PET scanner finally built in Sudbury.

Northern Cancer Foundation spokesperson Tannys Laughren announced the completed effort in a newsconference today by stating "we're done."

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Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault also announced that the province would contribute $4.6 million to construct a room the scanner would operate in.

The community has been raising funds for a PET scanner since the death of Sam Bruno, who began the push to have a scanner built in Sudbury before dying of cancer in 2010.

The province said last year it would contribute $1.6 million a year to operate the scanner, but only if Sudburians raised the funds for the machine itself.

Ontario's Minister of Health Eric Hoskins, who also attended today's announcement, applauded advocates in Sudbury as 'relentless' in their efforts.