NEWS RELEASE
HOSPICE ORILLIA
*************************
On Sunday, May 5, the City of Orillia will join thousands of people across the country, as they come together in order to raise funds for hospice palliative care programs and services.
In the 17th year of the Hike for Hospice Palliative Care, Hospice Orillia and Mariposa House Hospice are more excited than ever to host this year’s hike, to be held Sunday, May 5 at 9 a.m. at Couchiching Beach Park in Orillia.
Join Hospice Orillia and Mariposa House Hospice for a fun morning of family activities including a group hike along the trail, activities for kids such as face painting and games, a raffle draw with great prizes to be won, as well as refreshments and snacks.
“Hospice programs in Orillia need your support… and it’s a win-win!" says Dr. Erika Catford of Mariposa House Hospice.
"Funds raised go to support the important community visiting programs and bereavement support run by Hospice Orillia and the future build and operations of our new five-bed residential, Mariposa House Hospice, set to start construction this spring," said Dr. Catford.
"By walking, we can help keep these important community and residential hospice services free of charge to all in need of palliative and end of life care."
The Hike for Hospice is our chance as a community to support the work and mission of hospice palliative care: to support people through life-limiting illness, death, and grief. Hospice palliative care is a philosophy that recognizes that while someone might be living with a disease, the disease is not who they are.
Hospice services aim to help address the pain and suffering that is associated with both illness and grief so that people - including caregivers and the bereaved, can live their lives as fully as possible even in the face of these challenges.
Hospice palliative care programs are still at least 50% funded by charitable donations, and families must bear part of the cost of dying at home, in longer-term care – or almost anywhere outside of a hospital.
The money raised through the hike provides physical, emotional and social assistance to patients and their families and loved ones.
Hospice Orillia and Mariposa House Hospice are working toward ensuring that more Canadians, especially in our own community, receive the end-of-life care they wish for.
While the Hike is coordinated nationally, due to the generous financial support of GSK and Amgen, 100 per cent of the funds raised in our community remain here.
Our fundraising goal this year is to raise $30,000. The funds raised at this year’s Hike for Hospice will be shared between supporting Hospice Orillia's community support programs and the Mariposa House Hospice residential build and operations.
To support or participate in Hike for Hospice Palliative Care, or for more information, please contact Mandi May at 705-325-0505 ext. 107. You may also visit our website at http://www.hospiceorillia.ca/hike-for-hospiceorillia/.
**************************
