OLDS — For the second year in a row, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Olds & District Hospice Society (ODHS) to run its annual Hike for Hospice virtually.
Officially, it will be held on May 2, via Facebook Live, starting at 9 a.m. However, if potential participants aren’t able to hike on that day, they can to do their hike a week before or a week after and send their pledges in.
As the society’s March newsletter says, participants are urged to “walk, run, wheel, cycle or crawl a one kilometre or five-kilometre route around your acreage, range road, driveway, or around your house, parks, or neighborhood.”
Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on making a person’s end of life journey as comforting as possible.
Money raised via the hike is used to offset expenses related to the two hospice suites located in the Olds Seasons Encore assisted living facility.
Individual participants or teams can sign up via the society’s website. They’re encouraged to send in pictures of themselves in action along with comments and observations.
“This hike is our major fundraiser and every spring we are humbled and inspired by the support we receive from our community and from individuals and families who have experienced an end-of-life journey,” the society’s March newsletter says.
“It is a time to come together and remember, to laugh, cry, share stories, and show support.”
ODHS executive director Mary Smith is looking forward to the event.
“Throughout the day, we’ll have different members of the society just speak about hike and palliative care in our area,” she said during an interview.
“It's our 10th year hiking for hospice so leading up to the event, we’re going to have 10 draws for 10 days.
“Local businesses will provide raffle prizes and out of the people who have signed up for Hike for Hospice or people who have donated to (it), their names will be entered into the draws for those 10 raffle prizes.”
Although the society will welcome contributions from participants before or after May 2, Smith is hopeful most will undertake their hikes on the day of the event.
“We all want to be out there on May 2 hiking together,” she said. "We are really encouraging that on the day of that we all gather together virtually and just have that connection.”
Last year, due to the pandemic, the ODHS held Hike for Hospice virtually for the first time ever.
More than 200 people participated and raised more than $21,000 for hospice palliative support, well above the approximately $16,000 raised the previous year’s in-person event.
The society’s newsletter says that so far, Hike for Hospice has raised more than $205,000.
A total of 54 families have utilized the two suites it has in the Olds Seasons Encore seniors facility and more than 600 families have benefitted from its programs.
Currently, 72 volunteers are helping the society do its work, contributing about 2,400 volunteer hours annually.
