There were a lot of smiling faces as the annual Desert Valley Hospice Society Hike for Hospice event took place in Osoyoos and Oliver this past Sunday. Participating in the Osoyoos event on the Canal Trail included (left to right) Bonnie Sveinson, Terry Schlorn, Jan Schlorn and Deloris Brisbois. (Trevor Nichols photo)
More than 100 people came together in Oliver and Osoyoos on Sunday to raise money for the Desert Valley Hospice Society.
The annual Desert Valley Hospice Society’s Hike for Hospice took place in both Oliver and Osoyoos and saw volunteers from both towns embark on a short hike to raise both awareness and money for the non-profit organization.
Ken Clarke, the president of the Desert Valley Hospice Society, said the event is one of their biggest fundraisers, bringing in more than $10,000 last year.
In a speech before the Oliver hike, Executive Director Tracey McFadden told the crowd that through the fundraiser the society would be able to help many people end their lives in comfort.
“We all have the right to die with dignity and we’re making that possible for the people of Oliver and Osoyoos,” she said, before accepting a $1,000 donation from the Kiwanis Club of Oliver.
In Osoyoos, Clarke pointed out the society offers much more than simply their respite centre as it offers a myriad of training and programs offered by a strong core of committed volunteers.
“When we think of a hospice society we often think of a hospice house [where] one can die with dignity. But hospice is about more – it’s never been about the beds – it’s about our trained, compassionate volunteers who support clients and families through the palliative journey.
“It really does take all of us working together to make our communities a great place to live, to raise a family and work, play and live out our retirement. And, though we don’t like to think about it, a place where we can live out our remaining days when that time comes.”
According to Clarke, the society has 30 trained hospice volunteers who have taken 30 hours of training plus six hours of practical service, as well as many more who still help out but don’t have the same level of training.
In 2015 those volunteers logged more than 1,800 volunteers hours – up from 1,300 in 2014 – and 450 of those hours were given to provide respite and end of life support and companionship with clients.
The remaining hours are given to support our various programs.
While end-of-life care is a serious and often grave topic, the society kept its fundraiser light.
In Oliver it encouraged participants to dress up in costumes from the “tickle trunk,” and held a brief Zumba class before they set off.
“We have to make it fun. It’s serious business, but we can’t take it too seriously,” Sue Capyk said.
The participants seemed to appreciate it.
“I totally believe in the cause and the purpose,” hiker Delores Brisbois said as she and her friends rounded the home stretch at the end of the hike.
“It’s a great fundraiser,” Bonnie Sveinson added, before the team continued on their trek, laughing heartily.
TREVOR NICHOLS
Regional Reporter
