Over $224,000 raised at this year’s Hike for Bethell Hospice

June 21, 2023 · 0 Comments

By Zachary Roman

Another successful Hike for Bethell Hospice is in the books.

Kelly Stronach is the manager of marketing and communications for the Bethell Hospice Foundation (BHF). She announced the official results of the May 7 hike on June 14.

Over $224,000 has been raised from the hike so far, and some donations are still rolling in. Over 400 people participated in the hike, which took place in Inglewood, starting and ending at the Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena.

“Support has been overwhelming,” said Stronach. “The community has been so supportive, and we are incredibly appreciative.”

Hikers walked five kilometres along the Caledon Trailway and were treated to a barbeque lunch from the Rotary Club of Palgrave and Maple Lodge Farms. Before the hike started, there was breakfast, coffee, and opening remarks.

Lori O’Hara-Hoke is the director of the BHF and thanked everyone who attended the hike for their support.

“Bethell Hospice is a place of caring, compassion, love, empathy, respect, comfort, serenity, and peace,” said O’Hara-Hoke. “Many of you have experienced those feelings firsthand, and each of you has 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.”

In an interview at the hike, Nicole Hand, the BHF’s executive director, said it takes a village to support the hospice and that the Caledon community really showed up. She thanked the many businesses that supported the hike, as well as the over 40 volunteers who helped run the event.

The hike is always an important fundraiser for Bethell Hospice as each year, it must raise $1.5 million to keep its services free for the communities of Caledon, Brampton, and Dufferin County.

This year, the hike was presented by the Town of Caledon and featured many platinum-level sponsors: Access Storage, Egan Funeral Home, Fines Ford Lincoln, The Ledson Family, Meadowvale Funeral Centres, Polestar Boutique, and the Rotary Club of Brampton. Also supporting this year’s hike were many gold, silver, bronze, and route sponsors.

For the first time in 2023, a student Hike for Bethell Hospice helped bolster this year’s fundraising totals. It took place on May 5 between five different schools, raising $6,500. Stronach said it was a very successful day and that in 2024 she hopes to get even more schools involved.

Next year’s Hike for Bethell Hospice is already scheduled for May 5, 2024, and those interested in participating are encouraged to save the date.