OLDS — The Olds & District Hospice Society is no more.
Its name is now the Mountain View Hospice Society (MVHS), to reflect the fact that it serves people throughout the county and surrounding urban centres in their last stages of life.
MVHS executive director Mary Marshall made that announcement on Sunday, May 5, as the society held its annual Hike For Hospice in Olds and Didsbury.
That wasn’t the only announcement.
Marshall also said there’s a good possibility a hospice suite could soon be created in Didsbury.
She told the Albertan that suite could be created “as possible as early as June, but we are awaiting Alberta Health Services’ direction.”
During an interview, Marshall said the Hike For Hospice, part of a nationwide hike, raised more than $35,000 for the society, well up from their goal of $20,000.
However, theoretically, that’s not a record haul for the organization.
One year it raised $40,000, but Marshall noted that half of that money came from one $20,000 donation.
Marshall said last year, the society raised $28,000.
Marshall said 125 to 130 people participated in this year’s hike in Olds which, as usual, went in a loop starting and ending at Holy Trinity Catholic School. About 25 people participated in the hike in Didsbury.
Last year, a total of 103 people attended in Olds, and 20 participated in Didsbury.
Marshall said the Didsbury hike raised about $2,500. The remainder of the money was raised in Olds.
Two big factors in the amount of money raised this year were donations raised by longtime volunteer Jim Stone who raised $5,100 and Sally Gascon, 72, who had her head shaved in the Holy Trinity gym by retired RCMP officer Jeff Mercier after raising more than $6,700.
Mercier shaved Gascon’s about 30 years ago.
He who now lives in Edmonton but served a total of eight years in the Olds RCMP detachment.
“I thought it was for a good cause, so I came down from Edmonton,” he said.
Gascon, said since 2002, she’s raised had her head shaved seven times and has raised a total of about $87,000 for cancer.
She says she was motivated to raise money for cancer when, during a stay in the hospital, she saw a some kids who wanted to be in the hospital room with their grandpa but weren’t allowed to.
“My heart was so broken because they couldn’t go into the room and those little grandchildren were just knocking on the window to talk to their grandpa,” she said.
Gascon’s friends from Germany, Britta and Richard Pallor, along with Wolfgang Peinemann of Olds, also attended the event.
Marshall said in addition to the efforts of Gascon and Stone, she believes more money was raised this year because the hospice society did a better job of getting information about the event out early.
More sponsors came on board this year too.
“We had six,” she said.
“Our community is amazing and I think we're getting more well known in the community and that people are really wanting to support our services and programs,” Marshall said.
Another moving aspect of this year’s Hike For Hospice was that three teams were created to raise funds and support Donna Heck, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness about five years ago.
“She's beaten the odds,” Marshall said.
“But now the cancer is spreading, and she's getting closer to end of life and utilizing our hospice suites, so it's been quite the journey.
“She's a huge community member. She's just been an amazing, lady. She's poured a lot of good and kindness into our community, and she has a lot of people that support her.”
This year’s theme was superheroes. Prizes will be awarded for the best individual and team costume.
Marshall was asked if that was a factor in the turnout.
“I think it encouraged more families to come out which is very nice,” she wrote in an email.
During speeches in the gym, Marshall, along with MVHS president Harvey Walsh and Town of Olds Mayor Judy Dahl welcomed people to the event and thanked them for their participation.
“To the faithful volunteers whose time, energy and skills are offered for no personal gain, we bless you all,” Dahl said.
“It is our strong community spirit that generates hope for the future as we continue to support Hospice Society events.”
“I believe we can deem it a successful event,” Marshall told the Albertan.
Now we have our first ever golf classic coming up on June 13.”
