Photo: Contributed

Ramesh Rikhi, center, a well-known Summerland resident, has donated a substantial amount to the Penticton Regional Hospital in memory of his late wife.

A new, generous donation has been made to the ongoing Penticton Regional Hospital tower campaign by a Summerland man in memory of his late wife. 

Ramesh Rikhi and his wife Raksha, a nurse for over 30 years at PRH, moved to the South Okanagan from England in 1973. Raksha was one of the first women of Indian descent to work in the hospital, and often chose to add to her regular duties by assisting immigrants with translation and navigation of the medical system. 

Raksha passed away from cancer in August 2012, leaving behind her husband and children in Summerland, all of whom have fond memories of their kind and generous mother. 

"Her work and our family were both important to her. She preferred to work the night shift at the hospital so she could be home for us when we got back from school,” Jyoti, one of her children, said.

Ramesh made the decision to donate because the PRH was such a special place for his wife. He is an orchard owner in Summerland, as well as serving one term on council in 1996 and owning multiple businesses in the food and beverage sector. 

John Moorhouse with the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation said that now the hospital's tower campaign has reached over $18 million raised of their $20 million goal.