On May 7, 2017, Canadians all across the country will gather in their communities to celebrate the 15th Annual Hike for Hospice Palliative Care.
The annual Hike for Hospice Palliative Care launches National Hospice Palliative Care week in Canada, and brings together organizations working together in hospice palliative care to raise funds and awareness in their respective communities. The purpose of the Hike is not only to raise much needed funds for hospice palliative care in Canada, but also to raise awareness of the many challenges faced by hospice palliative care professionals and volunteers while promoting their work.
“For a decade and a half, the nationally-coordinated Hike for Hospice Palliative Care has helped local communities come together to show support for hospice palliative care,” said Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA).
The 2016 Hike marked the fourteenth year of the Hike for Hospice Palliative Care and was successful in raising over $2,900,000 for hospice palliative care across Canada.
“So much of the work done in hospices across Canada is carried out by volunteers, and fundraising is a crucial element that helps communities maintains their local residential hospice or hospice society in their community. We hope that the 15th year of the Hike helps bring more awareness and support than ever to those communities,” said Ms. Baxter.
All of the funds raised during the event stay within their respective local communities and will ensure that more Canadians receive the end of life care they wish for, closer to home. All organizations that provide programs or services in hospice palliative care that can demonstrate that all funds generated from the hike will be used to support these programs are encouraged to participate across Canada.
The Hike for Hospice Palliative Care is coordinated by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, the national association which provides leadership in hospice palliative care and end of life care in Canada. This year the sponsors for the event are GSK, Bayshore HealthCare and Amgen.
A complete list of all participating Hike sites and additional information is available on the CHPCA website at www.chpca.net/news-and-events/hike/directory-of-hike-sites.aspx
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association – the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada – is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in care for persons approaching death so that the burdens of suffering, loneliness and grief are lessened. The CHPCA operates in close partnership with other national organizations and continues to work to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of where they may live, have equal access to quality hospice palliative care services for themselves and their families.
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For more information, please contact:
Sarah Levesque
Communications and Policy Advisor
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
1-800-668-2785 Ext. 229
613-853-3951
[email protected]