Adam Prudhomme
Editor
In an effort to keep pace with growing demands for their services, Hospice Lennox and Addington will be hosting Hike for Hospice L&A on May 3 in Napanee.
Starting from Legion Branch 137, teams or individuals will embark on a leisurely stroll through downtown towards Springside Park, along the Napanee River trail to Centre Street and then back to the Legion on Mill Street. Walkers are encouraged to collect pledges for the cause.
“We’re seeing an increased need for our services every year and our funding stays kind of status quo,” said Melanie Bramburger, client care and volunteer services manager with Hospice L&A. “We’re hoping to raise $5,000 to help with the pressure on our services.”
Hike for Hospice will include a free barbecue from the Legion as well as live music throughout the day. Lunch will be served at noon followed by opening remarks at 12:45 p.m. The walk along the marked route will begin at 1 p.m. Walkers will have the option to wear a badge that lists a name of a person they are walking for, whether they be someone who has passed or is currently battling a disease.
Pledge forms are available online at CanadaHelps.org and searching Hospice Lennox and Addington. Forms are also available from their offices at 8 Richmond Park Dr in Napanee.
Based out of Lennox and Addington County General Hospital, Hospice offers palliative care for patients diagnosed with a terminal illness. They also offer bereavement support programs in the form of one-on-one or in group sessions, caregiver support, a mobile bereavement box for schools across Lennox and Addington County as well as managing a children’s wish fund. All of their services are offered free of charge.
“We’re there for the whole family,” said Bramburger. “We support people from the time they’re diagnoses to either when they go into remission or through death and through the bereavement process.”