“Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice” has raised a howling $70,000-plus for hospice care and services in Northumberland County.
As a result of “unprecedented” community support, the annual fundraising event brought home $77,390 for Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre (Ed’s House).
The September 29 event attracted more than 220 participants and just under 50 dogs to Victoria Park in Cobourg. It featured two-kilometre, five-kilometre, and 10-kilometre walks and bike rides around the town, music from DJ George Martin, a kids’ area filled with activities, and hot dogs grilled by the Lions Club of Cobourg.
“The success of the Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice event reflects the incredible support we have from our community,” said Trish Baird, CEO of Community Care Northumberland (CCN).
“We are deeply thankful for everyone who participated, volunteered, and donated. Your contributions help us provide essential services to those in need during some of life’s most difficult moments.”
Ed’s House foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support the operation of CCN’s hospice service programs, including the palliative care community team and the volunteer hospice visiting program. These services work alongside the 24/7 end-of-life care provided at Ed’s House.
Chelsea Rankin, CCN’s communications specialist, told kawarthaNOW that, in addition to the high level of community involvement, another significant factor contributing to this year’s impressive outcome was the addition of new committee members “who brought fresh energy and new connections with organizations across Northumberland County.”
“Our committee did an amazing job, and we couldn’t have achieved this without their dedication and passion,” Rankin said.
“We also introduced some great new tools, particularly the website, which made for a more enjoyable and user-friendly experience. Participants could easily download social graphics to share and enjoy a bit of friendly competition with the leader boards. Plus, registering themselves and their teams was very straightforward.”
Recently, Ed’s House underwent a significant expansion, increasing its capacity from six beds to 10 beds, aimed at providing compassionate care for additional people and families during challenging times. Due to the generosity of the community, all services are offered at no charge to clients and their families.
“The community support for Ed’s House and hospice services has been overwhelming,” said Joel Scott, director of donor relations and communications for CCN.
“To see the number of people that came together the way they did is heartwarming and reassuring of the belief Northumberland has in our care teams at hospice services.”
Further to Rankin’s comments, the momentum leading up to the event was significant, as participants created fundraising profiles on the new official website. This platform allowed teams to track donations, monitor their progress, and download social media graphics to promote the event.
The Ed’s House foundation recognizes Matthew Elder as the top individual fundraiser, having raised a total of $6,185.
“We would also like to thank the Elder family team, the Elder Avengers, for raising $9,060 and earning the title of top team fundraiser.”
During the event, Matthew Elder’s mother, Tammy Elder, delivered “a heartfelt speech about the exceptional care” her son, Travis, received at Ed’s House this year, emphasizing the profound impact hospice services have had on their family.
Lead sponsors Cameco, Lynn Hardy, and Atelier on John, dedicated volunteers, committee members, and “everyone who contributed to making Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice a success” were also given a shout-out.
For more information about Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre, visit edshouse.northumberlandhospice.ca.
