Bethell Hospice celebrates 15 years with record turnout at fundraising Hike

May 8, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The community and the sun were in full wattage this past weekend for the 15th annual Hike for Bethell Hospice.

The hike took place on May 3, 15 years from the day Bethell Hospice opened its doors.

The hike was held during National Hospice Palliative Care Week in Caledon.

Bethell Hospice Foundation Board co-chairs Adrian Horwood and Bonnie Klaassen welcomed everyone and spoke about the effort it takes to run the hike and Bethell Hospice itself.

“Every year, the Foundation has to raise over $1.8 million to provide personalized palliative programs and services, all of which are provided at no cost to residents, families, and the communities,” said Klaassen.

Horwood thanked the volunteers for their tireless efforts and the many hours they put in to make this event happen.

During the opening ceremony, Margaret Paan, the Executive Director of Bethell Hospice, announced that the record for team participants was set this year, with 58 teams in total registered.

“We want to tell all of you how much we appreciate each of you coming together to support the Hospice. You might be a first-time hiker or a returning team, but please know you each make an incredible difference by being here today,” remarked Paan.

Before the hike began, Horwood announced that Hospice had raised $233,000 in donations.

By the end of the event, Bethell Hospice had surpassed its goal of $255,000 and a record-breaking attendance of approximately 550 hikers.

Lori O’Hara-Hoke, former Board member and former Board Chair of Bethell Hospice, has been a part of the organization for nine years. O’Hara-Hoke spoke about how when she first joined in 2015, her goal was to help the sustainability of the organization and to be able to show up year after year still is a big part of that to support not only the organization but the families, the teams, and those that work there.

She also discussed the community’s significant role in the Hike for Bethell Hospice.

“Hike for Hospice is a community event that gives back to the community that supports it,” said O’Hara-Hoke. “This lets us continue that work, continue to develop programs that might help children, might help spouses, might help family members deal with what they go through when they come to Bethell Hospice and support the running of a house itself, because there is not sufficient government funding to take care of all the things that we have to do.

“That’s why volunteers and fundraising are such an integral part of Bethell Hospice. The community really helps make that happen, we’re so grateful for them.”

Jay and Beverly Mayes, from Team Mayes, participate in Hike for Bethell Hospice for their husband and father Jack. They have been involved in the hike for the past three years. Beverly talked about how her husband, Jack, had stayed at Bethell Hospice during his fight with cancer.

“We had enough time that he was at the hospice for three weeks, and it was better for him there than at home, because it was almost like home, but he had more help there,” said Beverly.

Their team is filled with love, family, and friends, and they said they’re glad to be a part of this.

Another team there to participate in the Hike was Team Brampton Funeral Home and Cemetery by Arbor Memorial, an event sponsor.

Michael Sutton, Funeral Home Manager, said they decided to sponsor the event because of their time working closely in the community with Bethell.

Sutton stated that their team wants to do everything they can to show their support for the team at Bethell’s initiative.

“For today, it’s just about being together as a community, sharing stories, supporting one another, and getting a little health kick in it while we’re at it,” said Sutton.

Councillor Lynn Kiernan also attended the event and talked about how extraordinary it is and the people who make it happen.

“There’s so many people that put this together, the volunteers, the board, the foundations, the community, the teams, the people honouring the people they’ve lost; friends, neighbors, family members,” said Councillor Kiernan.

Councillor Kiernan noted they raised the flag at Caledon Town Hall on April 22 to recognize Hospice Palliative Care Week, and the flag will be raised at Orangeville Town Hall on May 8 to continue to bring awareness to the community.

Helen Quackenbush and Jean James are a part of team Helen’s Wee Purple Hens, and as they walked along the hike, they shared that they were walking for their parents, Helen and Archie.

Quackenbush shared that they’ve been hiking since 2013 after their mother was under care in Bethell Hospice.

“The place was just amazing. The support group, the care, the compassion. It was actually really opening your eyes to what could be instead of hospitals and that’s why we support it, because, gosh, you’ve seen people suffering, and you want them to die with some dignity and care,” she shared.

James noted that being on the hike is great, especially with their family.

The hike has become a special place for this family for multiple reasons; Helen Quackenbush’s son-in-law proposed to her daughter, Amy Quackenbush, during the hike in 2022.

Amy Quackenbush and Ryan Snitzer were hiking with dogs in tow shortly ahead of the pair. Amy shared what it meant to be able to do this hike with her family around her.

“It’s great to help support the Hospice, it’s a wonderful place. It’s really nice to see all these people out here, it’s a great thing to do with family, honour them, their memory. I know my papa wasn’t at the Hospice per se, but still it’s sort of like together it’s our way to celebrate both of them,” said Amy.

“It still counts,” added Snitzer.

Donations are still rolling in until the end of May, and can be seen at hikeforbethellhospice.ca.