Cochranites can lace up their shoes for the return of the Cochrane and Area Hospice Society’s Hike for Hospice on May 5, at Mitford Park.
Registration opens at 9:45 a.m., in front of the outdoor stage. All donations from the event will be dedicated to the Compassionate Care Fund, which provides financial support to palliative diagnosed families and individuals that provide care and support.
Secretary for the society, Jill Uniacke, said the hikers will embark on a five-kilometre round-trip hike from Mitford Park to the end of West Valley. Although the event had to go on hiatus due to COVID-19, this year’s event will mark the fifth hike that took place in Cochrane.
“The Hike for Hospice is a national campaign to raise funds and awareness for hospice palliative care in Canada,” Uniacke said. “It started 20 years ago with the Canadian Hospice and Palliative care association.”
Uniacke explained that the event highlights the dedicated work that volunteers and professionals perform every day in the realm of palliative care.
“It always happens on the first week of May, which is also the national Hospice Palliative Care Week in Canada,” Uniacke said.
With continued growth every year, Uniacke said she looks forward to seeing more locals participate in the hike every year.
“Every event like this allows us the opportunity to walk alongside people, and share the knowledge and information about palliative hospice care within Cochrane and area,” Uniacke said.
In terms of how donations will be used, Uniacke explained that the Compassionate Care Fund is for families and patients going through an end-of-life journey.
“For example. You may need some extra funds for gas to drive into Calgary,” Uniacke explained. “We have a Compassionate Care Fund that might support that need for Cochrane community members.”
Uniacke said the event is always a fun way to spend the morning, adding that the society is always welcoming new hikers.
“We want everybody to come,” she said. “There’s lots of volunteers to walk with, and the whole idea is just to share the knowledge of palliative hospice care, and to be there for everyone that shows up.”
Alongside growing the event, Uniacke said the society hopes Hike for Hospice encourages locals to come out and not be afraid to discuss palliative hospice care, or end of life care and planning.
“Part of our role as a hospice society is to promote education and awareness of the palliative care journey that our community members are going through,” Uniacke said. “And just to raise awareness and advocate for people being able to stay in the community of Cochrane and area, for end of life [care[ is our long term goal.
