There was a sea of purple at River Mill Park on Sunday as more than 200 hundred people gathered for the ninth annual Hike for Hospice on Sunday, May 6.
The event is a signature fundraiser for Hospice Huntsville, with all proceeds helping to ensure that the organization can continue to provide its free programs and services. As of today, May 8, the event has raised $75,000 with donations still rolling in.
“Every dollar raised stays in our organization to support our operational programs,” said Hospice Huntsville Executive Director Bev Lashbrook. “We couldn’t provide the exceptional care that we do without all the money that we raise throughout the year.”
Last year, the Algonquin Grace Residential Hospice provided end-of-life care for 88 residents. Volunteers supported the organization with 9,762 volunteer hours.
“Volunteers are the heart of our organization. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have amazing events or all of the programs and services at hospice,” said Melissa Polischuk, Fund Development & Public Relations Coordinator at Hospice Huntsville.
Polischuk also thanked the Hike for Hospice sponsors for their support:
Signature sponsor Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy;
Gold sponsors Kimberly-Clark, MBRP, and Miller Law Group;
Silver sponsors Devonleigh Homes, Dorset Timber Mart, Scotiabank, Robinson’s General Store, Greystone, Dwight Market, Chartwell Retirement Residences, and Tulloch Engineering; and
and Bronze sponsors Dwight Lumber and BUilding Supplies, Kevin and Susan BIllingsley, Taylor Carpet One, Brokerlink Insurance, Huntsville Home Hardware, and The Greenwood Group.
Reverend Derek Shelly led a brief celebration of life followed by Amazing Grace on the bagpipes by Wayne Parker to begin the hike.
Hike for Hospice Huntsville kicks off each year with the Purple Tea Party (which raised $16,000 this year) at Huntsville Place Mall and continues throughout April with the purple boot campaign, in which people can drop their spare change in the purple boots placed around town. It all culminates with the hike in May during National Hospice Palliative Care Week.
Hospice Huntsville’s next major fundraiser is Swim for Hospice on August 12, 2018. Learn more here.
Hike for Hospice marshalls (from left) Rod Grummett, Joy Jarvis, Glen Vey (in back), Kellie Leeder (in front), Heather Aiken, Maureen Shipton and Michael Shipton
Lynda McLeod of Granny’s Kitchen serves up a purple boot cookie to Ethan Spence
Volunteer Kelly Burmeister gives Cody Dingman a new purple look for Hike for Hospice
(From left) Volunteers Marge Denis, Geraldine O’Meara and Sandra Young
Hikers remembered loved ones on the memory tree
Team Jean hikes in memory of Jean McDonald
Jen Salmon (left) and Jane Weiland sell t-shirts in support of Hospice Huntsville
Motivations Fitness led the crowd in a pound warm-up…
…and the crowd really got into it
Hospice Huntsville Executive Director Bev Lashbrook thanks the hikers for their support
Hospice Huntvsille Board President Gord Schakelaar lights a memorial candle
Reverend Derek Shelly leads a celebration of life
Piper Wayne Parker plays Amazing Grace to begin the hike
The hike begins
MBRP was one of the event’s Gold sponsors
Harley sported a purple necklace for the event
This young hiker was eager to speed things up a bit
(From left) Jan MacDonald, Heather Smith, and Stella Matthews (with hike marshall John Paterson) hiked in memory of Dave MacDonald
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