By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
In the absence of any government funding the local Desert Valley Hospice Society is solely reliant on donations from the community and as such, is extremely grateful for contributions like the one recently made by the local paddling club following its Dragon Boat event in early fall.
Speaking on behalf of the Osoyoos Lake Paddling Club, Jonathan Smith said: “We’re really pleased to donate to Desert Valley Hospice $500.” He noted the funds came from their 50/50 draw during their annual flag race in late September.
“The funds came in more than we expected,” he added, saying the club wanted to donate to a local non-profit and the hospice was agreed upon.
Linda Larsen, President of the Desert Valley Hospice Society expressed the organization’s gratitude saying, “most people don’t have hospice and death and dying at top of mind, and therefore getting a donation from a community group doesn’t happen all that often,” she said.
“We’re thrilled,” she added saying that the hospice runs programs continually “in support people who have lost a loved one or who are taking care of someone who is in that type of situation in life.”
The funds are always “desperately needed” highlights Larsen due to the fact the hospice is not funded by the healthcare system. “Everything we do must come from grants and donations. We do not have any money from the government,” and it’s a situation that “needs to be changed”.
During the recent provincial election the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association lobbied hard with everyone that was running she says, trying to bring greater awareness to the fact it’s an aging population, and to highlight the types of issues that are arising as people are living older and die.
Larson says it’s time for provincial healthcare “to step up and actually become involved with hospices and fund them, at least on some sort of a basic funding model so that we can keep our doors open without having to beg.”
This would seem only fair, she agrees, given it is an area of healthcare that in essence grew to help take the load off of hospitals.
