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2009 Hike for Hospice Palliative Care |
7th Annual Hike for Hospice Raises More than $1 Million Nation-Wide
(May 11, 2009. Ottawa, ON) – Participation and enthusiasm was at its highest rate ever for Hike for Hospice Palliative Care, as were the funds raised. Over $1 million dollars were raised at 97 different Hike sites throughout Canada. Thanks to the generous support of founding sponsor The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation as well as Bayshore Home Health and Wyeth, all proceeds remain in the local Hike site community.
Local Hike sites included a wide range of other activities, ensuring that Hike for Hospice Palliative Care was as fun as it was meaningful. Hikers in Revelstoke enjoyed a Heritage Walk about town, led by a museum curator. Many Hike sites enjoyed barbeques, and live music, such as performances by Lord Selkirk Boys Pipe Band in Winnipeg and Blair Packham in Toronto, ON. In Campbellford, the Hike ended with a memorial balloon launch.
Support for the 2009 Hike for Hospice Palliative Care was strong at all sites, with participation by Members of Parliament, Member of Provincial Parliament/Legislative Assemblies, mayors and celebrities ranging from a comedienne to football players and Canada’s most famous hockey dad, Walter Gretzky. A Hike site in Toronto, ON was hosted by Judy Croon, comedienne, radio host, and co-creator and host of Laughlines; Calgary, AB’s Hike sites were supported by the participation of Calgary Stampeders Rich Chevrier, Rob Cote, Tim O'Neill and Matt Grootegoed, as well as Ralph the Dog and several Stampeders Outriders. Olympic aerials skier Jeff Bean participated in a Hike in Sudbury, ON, and wheelchair Olympic athlete Jared Funk participated in St. Pierre Jolys, MB.
“We had our best-ever Hike on Sunday. Not only couldn’t we have asked for better weather, the energy was amazing!” reported John Wong, Interim Development Officer, Hospice Toronto. “People really had a great time. Hospice Toronto exceeded its goal of $20,000 by over 75%!”
Hike for Hospice Palliative Care is coordinated by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, the national association which provides leadership in hospice palliative and end-of-life care. Funding for the Hike is provided by its founding sponsor, The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, Bayshore Home Health, and Wyeth.
Once again this year The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association received sponsorship for the Hike for Hospice Palliative care from VIA Rail. This year’s sponsorship included two VIA rail comfort class tickets for two in the Windsor/Quebec Corridor.
The 2009 hike site winners are Hospice Niagara, Ontario and Maison de la Source Gabriel in Val-d'Or, Quebec!
Congratulations to both hike sites!
