Hike for Bethell Hospice raised over $150,000

May 9, 2019 · 0 Comments

Written By JOSHUA SANTOS

About 600 people in 46 teams walked together for the ninth annual Hike for Bethell Hospice at the Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena on Sunday, May 5.

Participants made their way through a five-kilometre hike along the Caledon Trail Way while reflecting on the memory of a loved one who passed away. As one of the largest fundraisers for Bethell Hospice Foundation, preliminary results show the organization exceeded their goal of $150,000, with more money still coming in.

Katt Todd was one of the many walkers in attendance. This was her first time participating in the event. She walked with her coworkers from Cavalier Transportation. She was walking in memory of her best friend’s dad, Gord Chapman. He was looked for after at Bethell Hospice.

“He was an awesome human being,” said Todd. “He loved his cars. He had old cars he loved to fix up for old car shows. He was a kind and generous person that was a fixture around Bolton. He was always there at a coffee shop on Saturday mornings and he had a great group of friends and everybody knew him and adored him. He was just a great guy.”

Chapman passed away at Bethell Hospice on Friday, July 20, 2012, according to his obituary at Egan Funeral Home. He was 62-year-old and a husband to Doris Moore. He was the father of Lisa Chapman, Greg and Michelle Chapman and Colleen Chapman. He was also a grandfather to Jesse and Morgan Loney and a brother of Gloria and Bob Stoddart, Grant, and Susan Chapman and Gayle and Garry Bussey.

The hike featured a memory board, where participants posted photos of their loved ones and inspirational quotes. There was also a silent auction and the Caledon Lions Club served a complementary lunch.

Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson and Ward 1 area coun. Lynn Kiernan were also in attendance.

Tim Powell, past chair of Bethell Hospice Foundation thanked the large crowd for their support. “Each of you here today is aware how vital the services of Bethell Hospice are to our community,” said Powell. “As the words on the back of our hike t-shirts remind us, Bethell Hospice is a place of caring, compassion, love, empathy, respect, comfort, serenity, and peace. Many of you have experienced those feelings first hand, and each of you have cared enough to come forward today, to ensure that Bethell Hospice services will be here for the next families in need. Thank you all so much for your belief in the importance of Bethell Hospice in our community.”

The majority of hikers lived I Caledon, Brampton, Dufferin County and surrounding areas. There were also, participants who attended the event from as far away as Huntsville in Muskoka Region.

“It’s a great event for families who have had loved ones in the hospice,” said Julie Meyers, associate director of marketing and communications for Bethell Hospice Foundation. “A lot of the teams that come out are organized by individual families and it’s a way they want to give back to the hospice and pay it forward for the next families who will be coming into the hospice after them.”

Bethell Hospice receives government funding, but that only covers the direct care medical staffing costs. The organization fundraises to cover other expenses from medication, food to the residential hospice building itself.

Donations are still accepted online at https://foundation.bethellhospice.org/