Hike for Bethell Hospice taking place on May 6 in Inglewood

April 26, 2018 · 0 Comments

Written By JASEN OBERMEYER

The eighth annual Hike for Bethell Hospice will take place on Sunday, May 6, in Inglewood, with the event being one of the largest fundraisers for the foundation to provide palliative care in the community.

Held each spring during National Hospice and Palliative Care Week, the hike raises funds and awareness for the Bethell Hospice Foundation. Over the past seven years, the hikes have raised a combined total of over $700,000, with this year’s goal being to raise $150,000. Last year’s hike raised a total of $163,000, making it the third largest hospice fundraising hike in all of Canada.

“There’s a lot of energy around here,” says Julie Hymers, the foundation’s marketing and communications manager, when describing the feeling the oundation gets around the time of the hike. “It’s a really positive atmosphere.”

Hikers will meet at the Lloyd Wilson Arena in Inglewood beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 10:00 a.m., and will then take part in the five kilometre hike along the Caledon trail way, followed by a barbecue lunch. The hike celebrates not only those who were residents of Bethell Hospice, but all those who are loved and remembered.

Hikers are encouraged to gather pledges of support, post inspirational messages and photos on the memory board in the arena, and bid on items in the silent auction. All donations will go directly back to benefit the foundation.

Bethell Hospice is the only residential hospice serving Caledon, Brampton and Dufferin County, and provides community programs throughout Caledon and Brampton. The foundation must fundraise on its own 40 per cent, around $1-million, yearly. It is a 10-bed residence that provides care for people facing life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Ms. Hymers said that everyone has a different expectation of what the hospice is, but that it’s “always different from what people imagine.” She added that staff go above and beyond to make the experience individualized.

One example given is how the kitchen is for everyone, and how patients can have anything they want for any meal time.

She described Bethell Hospice as a happy place, where families can spend their final moments together. “Lots of wonderful things happen here, things that are important to people.”

Registration is $25, while kids 12 under are free. To register for the hike, or to donate to a hiker, go to foundation.bethellhospice.org. On-site registration will also be open on the morning of the hike.