Bethell Hospice celebrates annual Light and Love campaign

Written By JASEN OBERMEYER

Bethell Hospice has launched their annual Celebration of Light and Love campaign, to raise not only much-needed year end money for the hospice, but to also reflect and remember those who have been touched by the organization.

Since 2012, this annual campaign is one of the hospice's two major fundraising events, the other being the Hike for Bethell Hospice in May. It is capped with a beautiful tree lighting ceremony.

Over $160,000 was raised during this campaign in 2017, and more than 360 individuals were honoured, and the hospice is looking to match the money raised.

“It's also a time when the community comes together,” said Julie Hymers, the hospice's marketing and communications manager, describing this time as one of reflection. “It's very much a time of great warmth, and joy, and remembering.”

Being the only residential hospice serving Caledon, Brampton and Dufferin County, and providing community programs throughout Caledon and Brampton, Hymers said the $1-million needed to be raised every year ensure end-of life care can be provided at no cost to residents, program participants or their families. “That covers everything from medication to the residents, to food.”

With each Light & Love donation Bethell Hospice Foundation will illuminate a light on their tree, with every light on the tree representing a life. While many of those remembered are individuals whose lives have been directly touched by Bethell Hospice, many members of the community also take the opportunity to remember special people in their lives with a gift to help others in their time of need.

“It's an event that really means a lot to a lot of people,” added Hymers, describing the view of seeing the lights as “quite spectacular. It's very moving.”

This year's tree lighting ceremony and reception will take place at Bethell Hospice on Thursday, Dec. 13.  Guests are invited to gather at the Inglewood Community Centre at 7:00 p.m. and participate in the candlelit procession to the doors of Bethell Hospice to light the trees at 7:15 p.m.  The procession will be accompanied by the Orangeville Chorus, and names will be read by Bethell Hospice volunteer, and Caledon school board trustee Stan Cameron.

To honour a special person in your life, or make a general gift, call the fundraising office at 905-838-3534 or donate to Light and Love online at foundation.bethellhospice.org.