Cynthia Breadner is turning 61 this month, and has pledged to run and bike 61 kilometres in her first ever duathlon in support of Margaret Bahen Hospice and Doane House Hospice in Newmarket.
It only seems fitting that the local woman and founder of GriefCafe would choose a hospice as her charity of choice, given her line of work, caring and supporting those in the end of life stage.
Typically, hospices take part in the national Hike for Hospice event every year, but with COVID-19 it was moved online and changed to The Great 2020 Hospice Activity Challenge, which has been extended to Sept. 11.
The challenge invites participants to create their own physical activity challenge, whether it be running, swimming, biking, or hiking, and invite friends, family and neighbours to join in. It can be anything from a one-day, one-week or one-month challenge with all money raised going toward the hospice community.
Breadner decided she would dedicate the month to training for her duathlon (an athletic event consisting of a run, a bike and another run) and plans to complete a total of 61 kilometres in one day, and a total of 200 kilometres in one month through daily training.
She has given herself a goal of raising $1,000. So far she is over halfway there and is seeking more support from the community.
Breadner isn’t new to racing. She started running races at 57, and has incorporated it into her regular exercise routines. In her first year of racing, she completed in full triathlons.
She was signed up for six races this year, before they were all cancelled, but she began training anyway as soon as the weather started to warm up.
“I was really feeling lethargic and I didn’t have any goals,” she explained.
So when she heard about the Hospice Activity Challenge, she thought it would be a great way to not only support the two hospices she volunteers with, but get herself feeling motivated again.
She plans to complete the duathlon around town on Wednesday Aug. 26 (weather permitting). Her home base will be set up at Green Valley Alliance Church, with a large tent and her daughter, Danielle, keeping track of her time and distance.
She will break up the day in sections, starting with a six-kilometre run, followed by two 20 kilometre loops on the bike, and finishing off with three five-kilometre runs. If the weather is too hot, she will do the biking portion in the evening.
"We have to raise $850,000 a year through special events and donations to continue to offer exceptional hospice care through the many free of charge, programs and services," noted special events advisor for the hospices, Juliet Irish. The government's 50 per cent funding supports 24/7 nursing at Margaret Bahen Hospice and friendly visiting program at Doane House Hospice.
Margaret Bahen Hospice is a new hospice in Newmarket, located beside Southlake Hospital. Doane House is the original hospice community in Newmarket that puts the proper measures in place to help people die in the comfort of their own home. They also provide grief and bereavement support.
Both hospices are always looking for volunteers to help in any capacity, whether it be cooking, crafting or just being an ear to listen.
Breadner is passionate about grief and bereavement care, and is a one-on-one volunteer at both Margaret Bahen Hospice and Doane House where she provides grief support and counselling.
“Most people going into hospice, they’re in the stages of understanding that it’s in the active dying stage,” explained Breadner.
"I love hospice, hospice is my passion, it's my heart," she shared. "And as morbid as it sounds, I love working with death and dying and grief and understanding end of life."
Hospice is usually determined when an individual is given three months or less to live. It is a way for those in the active stages of dying to be able to say goodbye to loved ones and be made as comfortable as possible before passing away.
“Being in hospice care, you realize that sometimes it’s a gift, because you cherish your time here with your family, knowing that it’s short,” she explained.
Last year, the Hike for Hospice event raised $57,000. This year's goal for the online virtual challenge is $80,000.
Breadner is happy to be taking part, and welcomes any and all donations to her cause, including from local businesses who may be interested in sponsoring her.
To make a donation to Breadner's fundraiser, click here.
