Hike for Carefor Hospice Cornwall reaches $30,000 fundraising goal
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This article has been edited to remove a reference to a family member who passed away while at Carefor Hospice Cornwall earlier this year.
It would take a lot more than a pesky rainstorm to stop local residents from supporting one of their favourite health-care facilities.
More than 100 people took part in the annual Hike for Carefor Cornwall Hospice Sunday afternoon along Second Street West.
“What an amazing day,” the hospice posted to its Facebook page afterwards. “What an incredible community. Thank you to all who hiked, helped and donated.
“You are all part of giving compassionate end of life care to people and families who need it.
“We are very happy to say that together we reached our target of $30,000!”
The post also noted that as of Monday afternoon, residents could still donate at: carefor.ca/donate-cornwall-hospice.
Samantha Prevost was one of many participants there to support a loved one that received hospice care.
“This place is so amazing – everyone that works here, that volunteer here makes you feel like home, such a beautiful place,” Prevost said. “I want to support them forever: do donations and volunteering for hospice.
“I’ll go through a storm to be here for them and my dad.”
During the hike’s opening ceremony, the hospice’s physician, Dr. Dianne Polly, said the support from the city and SDG has been so generous that Cornwall hospice serves about double the average number of patients of other hospices.
“We have 10 beds in Cornwall Hospice that provide end-of-life care, we are so, so fortunate,” Polly said. “It’s not just for the community, it is by the community.”
Polly said residents recognize this.
“People come together at events like this because they want to make sure what was available to them is available to others,” she said. “That’s the way our community always worked – we help one another.”
She said hospice serves more than palliative care, but also a caring temporary home for family and friends.
“That’s the beauty of hospice, I guess,” she said, thanking her fellow caregivers. “I am lucky to get to work alongside the volunteers and staff every day… who make this building what it is.”
Other dignitaries providing best wishes and gratitude were Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry MP Eric Duncan, SDSG MPP Nolan Quinn, and Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale.
They all remarked how mutual personal friends, David Murphy and Judy Bobka, were hospice residents in the time before their deaths.
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