The Close to Home Campaign for Hospice and End-of-Life Care has raised 19.5 million dollars.

The St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation has received 500-thousand dollars from Joe Remai.

The Saskatoon philanthropist says he is excited about this donation since he is in his twilight years and can’t wait to tour the 15-bed Hospice being built on Hilliard Street East when it’s completed in about a year.

Remai has also donated toward the purchases of vascular imaging, diagnostic imaging and other state-of-the-art equipment for the St. Paul’s Vascular Operating Theatre.

Foundation C-E-O Lecina Hicke says the donation will continue to help care givers and staff take palliative care out of emergency rooms or intensive care and into more comfortable surroundings.

Campaign donations from around the community now total 19.5 million dollars.