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Colin and his family celebrated Christmas 2021 in the British Virgin Islands. From left: Colin’s wife
of 45 years, Carol Hansen-MacDonald; son Luke with his daughter Hayley Grace; son Nicholas; Colin.

Your Greatest Wealth

COLIN MACDONALD, CEO
Member, Chief Executives’ Organization (CEO) and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO)
Lead Donor for Healthnetwork Foundation’s 2022 Annual Appeal

Y Your health is your greatest wealth. Sadly, incredible access. Then in 2013 I had a health issue
ou’ve heard it before. I’ve heard it before.
myself—really, the first time in my life I’ve had anything
major interfere with my own health. After going through
we really don’t understand it until our
health is threatened. On top of that, when my own experience I really saw the value of what they do,
the regular healthcare system that we have access to is and I have been a major donor ever since...
either unprepared or incapable of dealing with the issue,
that’s when things get really scary. What’s the Point?
Because of my involvement with YPO and now CEO,
I’ve been connected with Healthnetwork Foundation for I’m 74 years old. I’ve lived a full and active life, and I
almost 20 years. I have called on them more times than think I have a fairly high pain tolerance. But the nerve
I can count. When my friend John had leukemia and his pain I experienced in 2013 was so excruciating I
doctors gave him a week to live, Healthnetwork got him wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It felt like
into a specialist in Washington State for treatment. someone was chopping off my right wrist—constantly.
Yesterday John bicycled 45 km—pretty good for a man The only way I could get any rest was to pop a heavy
who was dying eight years ago. When my son had a duty narcotic, and that would give me about an hour of
serious injury from glass in his eye, Healthnetwork got us sleep. I saw specialists in Canada and in the Eastern
to the right place quickly. When my wife broke her elbow, United States. I did physiotherapy and took anti-
connections through Healthnetwork got her access to the inflammatories. Nothing touched the pain.
“Elbow King” for the best care we could have hoped for. I’m semi-retired now, but at that time I was a very active
In each instance Healthnetwork gave me access to person. I ran a large seafood company and worked seven
facilities and specialists to help my friends, business days a week. Exercise was my stress relief. I worked out at
associates, and family. They are incredible people with lunchtime and again in the evening at home. When the
pain got bad, all that came to a stop. I couldn’t exercise,

20 Healthnetwork Foundation | www.healthnetworkfoundation.org