Okanagan residents have the opportunity to win free tuition toward a healthcare education at Okanagan College.

Kelowna philanthropist Tom Budd, along with local radio stations Virgin Radio and Sun FM, is hosting a contest called Wishin for Tuition across the Okanagan from now until Apr. 12.

Participants can win up to $5000 toward their tuition to one of 10 health sciences programs at Okanagan College. The programs offered include Early Childhood Education and pharmacy technician.

The tuition contest was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic, which wouldsa国际传媒檝e been part of the Our Students, Your Health fundraising campaign for the collegesa国际传媒檚 new health sciences centre.

Okanagan College Foundation executive director Helen Jackman said the current outbreak reinforces how essential well-trained healthcare professionals are.

sa国际传媒淣ow more than ever, we need quality healthcare professionals to care for our community, and the new centre will provide a state-of-the-art regional training hub for those frontline healthcare workers,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e grateful that this contest will help not only a student pursue their dream, but that student will go on to help countless community members who will be impacted by their care.sa国际传媒�

The prize money is coming from a fund Budd set up to honour his sons Payton and Dillon.

sa国际传媒淭he Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fundsa国际传媒檚 primary focus is mental health,sa国际传媒� Budd said.

sa国际传媒淏ut our physical health is directly linked to our mental health, and so we have to take care of both.sa国际传媒�

For more information on the rules, visit .

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