Metro Vancouver hospitals are warning the public about a telemarketing group that claims to be raising money for sick kids.
South Surrey businessman Ryan Oliver received a call in September asking him to buy 20 soft cover Healing Hands Busy Books, which would be given to sick children at his local hospital.
Oliver admits the call struck a chord. "It seemed like a great idea," he said. "I, as a kid, spent many months in the hospital and it's not a fun thing so, yeah, it kind of pulls the heart strings."
But when the books arrived a week later, along with a bill for $112, he had concerns. "There was just something off about it," he said.
Oliver says the salesperson told him the books would go to Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock – but the hospital said it's never heard of Healing Hands, and does not even have a pediatrics department.
Children are admitted to Surrey Memorial Hospital, however, and foundation spokesman Jason Howe says they've heard complaints about Healing Hands before.
"The hospital hasn't received any of those books for several years, but we did at one point," Howe said. "The hospital ended up sending a couple of boxes back to the company. The hospital felt at the time that the books just weren't age appropriate."
And two years ago, Vancouver Coastal Health put out a media release warning the public to avoid Healing Hands books.
"It's been around all over the States and also all over Canada," spokeswoman Anna Marie D'Angelo said. "It comes up every so often."
CTV tried several times to reach Healing Hands owner David Suggitt by phone this week. The calls were not returned.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy
