General News

Crowds out to walk the runway at BFC

August 10, 2016   ·   0 Comments

By Bill Rea
Last Thursday evening was a nice night for a stroll, even along a runway.
Brampton Flight Centre (BFC) hosted the third annual Light Up the Runway in support of Bethell Hospice.
And the event seems to keep growing.
Daphne Parsons, financial controller at BFC, reported Tuesday small amounts of money were still coming in, but they were looking at about $27,000 raised for Bethell. She added there were close to 150 people taking part. Participation numbers were roughly in line with last year’s event, although the amount raised was only about $24,000. And things have more than doubled since the first walk, which raised about $13,000.
“We hope that it continues to grow,” she remarked.
It was Parson who greeted the crowds.
“I’m so happy to see you all here,” she declared. “Really, really happy!”
She also expressed appreciation for the support from sponsors, including Scotiabank, which will be matching what was raised that evening. She also cited Peel Mutual Insurance, Thomas Carberry Insurance and Paradise Farms.
Parsons also said Donations can still be made online, and they are always welcome by Bethell.
“This is a really worthwhile cause,” Mayor Allan Thompson told the participants, adding it’s great that BFC gets involved to hold the event.
“It’s a healthy initiative we’re doing to raise money for Bethell,” he added.
“Bethell Hospice is the only residential hospice we have in the community,” Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones commented. “It means a great deal to our community.”
There were also comments from relatives of people who have stayed at the facility.
Jem Cain spoke about her sister Darlene, who had terminal brain cancer and spent the last 14 and a half weeks of her life at Bethell. She was 56 when she died in 2012.
She said she and her other sisters knew what a hospice was, but they didn’t understand. They had thought when Darlene moved into the facility, there would be no more good memories or times.
She said they were able to have sleepover with her just about every night. And her dog was allowed to visit and stay over as often as they wanted.
Cain also recalled Darlene’s boss visited her, sitting on the patio talking with her. and the staff would wheel her bed out so she could join in high tea.
Cain said her sister signed up for the Hospice hike so she could help raise funds for the facility. She was also determined to attend it, but she couldn’t get out of bed. Cain said they asked the staff to help talk Darlene out of it, but the reply from the nurse was, “We are here to help Darlene achieve the things she wants to do before she dies.”
It took some doing, but the staff was able to get her to the hike.
“Darlene spent her last months living, not dying,” Cain added.
She also said Darlene at worked at Pearson International Airport before it was even called that.
“She would have loved the Light Up the Runway Walk,” she said.
Former Brampton councillor John Sanderson, a member of the Bethell Hospice Foundation Board, pointed out that government funding only covers about 60 per cent of the costs to operate the facility. That means they have to raise about $1 million annually.
“That’s no small feat,” he said.
Anant Persad, an instructor at BFC, said his grandmother died at Bethell in February, and he pointed out it sometimes takes a personal connection with something for it to hit home.
“I just want to send out an incredible amount of thanks to them and BFC for hosting this event,” he said.

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