Get your walking shoes on for the Hike for Hospice at Kinsmen Park next Sunday.
Now in its ninth year, this national event raises funds for hospice and palliative care in Canada. Locally, the money raised will go to the Castlegar Hospice Society.
Before walkers hit the pavement, there will be some speeches, said Suzanne Lehbauer, executive director of the Castlegar Hospice Society.
“Mayor Chernoff always gives some opening encouraging remarks,” she said.
There are two routes for the walkers: a longer one that starts at Kinsmen Park and goes through the Millennium Walkway and back (it takes around an hour to complete) and a shorter route that goes past the Station Museum and back.
“That’s a nice flat, short route for those that want to show their support,” Lehbauer said.
People are able to enter as an individual or as part of a team.
“You can either get pledges or make your donation,” Lehbauer said, making the options flexible. There is no minimum pledge, she added.
After the walk, there will be a hot dog barbecue for all to enjoy.
The fundraising goal for this year’s event is $3,500, but “whatever we receive we are grateful,” Lehbauer said.
In Castlegar, the money raised goes toward training and education for hospice volunteers, numerous programs for grief and bereavement support, community education workshops, bringing in guest speakers and working towards a regional freestanding hospice.
Last year more than $1 million was raised nationally for hospice palliative care programs and services in 99 different locations.
“I am in awe of the extraordinary care, compassion and understanding provided by the hospice palliative care community,” Peter Mansbridge, Honorary Chair of the Hike for Hospice Palliative Care and national Hospice Palliative Care Week said in a release.
“I will never forget the care that was given to both my parents.”
Advanced registration is appreciated, but not required.
Forms are available at castlegarhospice.org or hikeforhospice.com.
Otherwise, registration takes place between 10 and 11 a.m. on May 1 at Kinsmen Park. The event gets underway at 11 a.m.