Supporters raise $29,000 for Hospice services in the County

Kathy McAlpine Terpstra, of EverFit Studios in Bloomfield, got Hike for Hospice participants warmed up for the hike to the beat of music from The Reasons.

More than 225 supporters of Hospice Prince Edward braved cold and rainy weather to celebrate raising approximately $29,000 during Sunday’s Hike for Hospice event.

That figure puts fundraising over seven years to more than $207,000 raised in the pledge-based hike for services in Prince Edward County.

Hospice Prince Edward provides end-of-life care, grief and bereavement programs along with services to support people in the community who are living with progressive, life-limiting illnesses, their loved ones and caregivers, at no charge. While the South East Local Health Integration Network funds a portion of care, community fundraising is needed to pay for the rest and for needs at the residential facility at 40 Downes Ave., Picton, including heat, hydro, water and building maintenance.

Friends, families and volunteers met at the Prince Edward Community Centre to register, ready their teams and signs.

Irene Mylar ties a leaf on the Memory Tree in honour of her sister Jean.

Irene Myler took a moment to place a leaf on a memorial tree in honour of her kid sister, Jean, a former Belleville resident who passed away comfortably, at Hospice Prince Edward.

“This is our third year supporting the hike,” said Irene, who was at the event with her husband Terry and two grandsons, Carter and Liam. “Hospice was absolutely incredible with us and I respect them so much. They let Jean call us the night she died. It still brings me to tears to think of it now.”

The Mylers are supported in their fundraising by neighbours and friends in Burlington, knowing Jean had lived with them for about six months during cancer treatments before she went back to Belleville to continue treatment.

“Hospice meant so very much to us. We are grateful and come back every year to show our support.”

Anne Banari, Marianne Malachowski and Joscelyn Matthewman served up refreshments.

Peter Matthewman, chair and president of the Hospice Prince Edward Board and Foundation thanked Hospice staff and volunteers, community members, individuals and businesses for support of the organization’s major fundraising event of the year.

Hunter Cannon dances to the beat of music from The with his mom, Kristen.

“We have supported over 480 families in our community outreach programs since 2010, who have received a palliative diagnosis, or lost a loved one,” said Matthewman.
“One of our volunteers meets a new family every week in our community. At the same time, at the residential hospice, (opened in 2013) we’ve served 165 families from our community. Last month we achieved 154 continuous days of 24-hour seven day service to families in Prince Edward County. That couldn’t have been done without this generous support.”

Peter Rea and The Reasons band performed for the third year. Rea was wearing a T-shirt in memory of his brother Mike, who died last year at Hospice Prince Edward, at the age of 56.

The band played on as Kathy McAlpine Terpstra, of EverFit Studios in Bloomfield, led the crowd in warm-up exercises before participants left to hike.

While some chose to make their rounds in the Prince Edward Community Centre arena, many donned rain coats and carried umbrellas for the hike to the LCBO and back, attracting honks of support from passing vehicles.

The walkers, hikers and wanderers returned to the community centre for a barbecue lunch and refreshments, courtesy of the Picton Rotary Club.

Muriel Tibault and Marg Stoddard welcomed hikers avoiding the rain to the indoor hiking area at the arena.

Krista Hepburn and JJ Johnston hiked in honour of Simon Vincent.

No rain or cold for participants doing their hike laps in the arena.

Rain sprinkled on the Hike for Hospice participants making their way down Main Street, Picton and attracting supportive “honks” from passing vehicles.

For more information about Hospice Prince Edward and its many programs, visit http://www.hospiceprinceedward.ca