When you’re walking the dog, swimming laps in your pool, cycling with the kids or exploring Newmarket’s trails throughout August, you can also support Newmarket’s two hospices.
With the cancellation of the annual Hike for Hospice due to COVID-19 restrictions, Margaret Bahen Residential Hospice and Doane House Community Hospice are holding the Great 2020 Hospice Activity Challenge from Aug. 1 to 31 to raise much-needed funds to continue providing end-of-life care to local residents.
“What if you turned your favourite summer activity into a mini-fundraiser for us?” said development director Jennifer Adams. “We are challenging the community to be active throughout August, and help raise funds for Margaret Bahen and Doane House hospices, while honouring someone special in your life.”
The goal of the virtual fundraising event is to raise $80,000.
Simply set an activity goal — whether it’s for a one-time event, a week-long challenge or throughout the entire month of August — and a fundraising goal, and register here.
Organizers suggest you ask friends, family and neighbours to join you in the challenge, and to share your photos, videos and stories on social media with the hashtag #HospiceActivityChallenge and #TG2020HAC.
“The pandemic didn’t slow down our supports in the community, in fact, we have had a 93 per cent occupancy rate throughout the pandemic,” said Adams.
“The onset of COVID-19 impacted our planned fundraising events and forced us to re-think how we achieve our annual $850,000 fundraising goal,” she added.
While the annual golf tournament that also supports the two hospices has also been cancelled, you can instead register for Tee Off For Hospice, presented by Apple Self Storage, at Pheasant Run Golf Course and play when you choose.
For $195 per player ($90 charitable tax receipt), you receive a voucher for 18 holes of golf, a cart and bistro lunch, and you choose the date and time to play.
It costs on average $1,000 per day for a hospital bed, while a hospice bed costs about $460 a day.
While government funding covers salaries for the registered nurses, medical doctors and personal support workers, all other hospice costs must be funded through donations from the community, Adams said.
All funds raised by Doane House Hospice and Margaret Bahen Hospice stay in our community, she added.
Sponsors for the Great 2020 Hospice Activity Challenge include Peaceful Transition, York Energy, IEWC Global Solutions, Lions Club of Aurora, Qualicare and Southlake ProResp. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Doane House has been operating for 31 years, while Margaret Bahen is marking its third year.
“All hospice services are free of charge, which gives peace of mind to individuals and families requiring support, whether in wellness programs, caregiver support or grief and bereavement,” Adams said.
Last year, Doane House served 532 clients, providing services that include Oasis and Wellness programs, art therapy in schools, caregiver support groups, bereavement sessions for adults and children, and individual counselling.
Margaret Bahen served 189 residents, who stayed an average length of stay 20.5 days, and 79 per cent had a cancer diagnosis.
For more information about the events and sponsorship, email [email protected] or call (905) 967-1500 ext. 133.
