VANCOUVER, June 7 /CNW/ - Teck Cominco Limited and B.C.'s mining community raised $1,083,000 on June 2 for the B.C. Children's Hospital (BCCH) Foundation through the 9th annual Mining for Miracles Celebrity Pie Throw. "We're proud of the results this year and gratefully acknowledge the many individuals in our industry and related industries who committed their hearts, their time and their pocket books towards making this fundraiser such a phenomenal success," said Don Lindsay, Teck Cominco's President and Chief Executive Officer. From "humble pie" beginnings eight years ago at Teck Cominco's office in Vancouver, the Celebrity Pie Throw has grown into a major source of public and industry-supported funding for B.C. Children's Hospital. This year, 10 industry leaders and supporters plus two doctors from BCCH "took" a pie for the kids for the record total, surpassing last year's contribution of $917,000. Beginning in 2006, funds raised by BC's mining industry for the next three years will be directed towards the re-development of two BCCH operating theatres into "SMART O.R.'s" - operating rooms that will enable the hospital's surgical staff to treat children with minimally invasive techniques that mean less waiting and recovery time, and conversely less fear and trauma. "Since the inception of the Mining for Miracles campaign, B.C.'s mining industry has raised more than $8 million for the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation," said Lindsay. "B.C. Children's Hospital is an exceptional care facility and I personally salute all the volunteers from our industry and especially those from our own company who tirelessly lead by example and help make a very real difference in children's lives that all British Columbians can share in and be proud of."