Garden tour raises money for equipment to prevent nurse injuries

A fundraiser will help nurses in Williston avoid the most common injuries received in their profession. The Women's Auxiliary hosted their 26th annual Garden Tour to raise money for a piece of equipment at CHI Saint Alexius Hospital that will reduce accidents.

Five gardens will be featured on Saturday, and Auxiliary members say the event has become quite popular, especially because the money goes towards healthcare workers.

Hospital staff say the most common injuries nurses receive happen while transporting patients, so this year, the money will all go towards a Zoom Cart.

"It's a self-propelled cart, and it makes it much easier for nurses to transport patients. So you don't have to push, push, push," said Marilyn McGinley, Garden Auxiliary city chairperson.

Jim and Loyce Rauser's garden has been featured several times for the fundraiser. They say it has definitely evolved throughout the years.

"The last 30 years, we've really put our hearts into the pretty garden, like the flowers and everything. We had a large vegetable garden when our kids were growing up, we had a baseball field out here once in the yard, and we had a hockey rink," explained Loyce.

The event starts with breakfast at First Lutheran Church at 9 a.m., followed by an artificial succulent pot demonstration, and ends with a garden tour at 10. For more information, you can go to the 26th Annual Garden Tour's Facebook page.