Whether walking in sneakers, pedalling a bicycle, or parading on puppy paws, humans and their four-legged friends are invited to help raise money for hospice by taking part in “Hike, Bike, and Bark” in Cobourg this fall.
Advance registration opens in August for Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice, an annual event that supports Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre. Last year’s event raised a record-breaking $77,390.
Whether walking in memory of a loved one, cycling for a cause, or enjoying a day out with a four-legged friend, there’s a route for everyone, Community Care Northumberland (CCN) said.
Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice returns to Victoria Park in Cobourg on Sunday, September 28.
Chelsea Rankin, communications specialist for CCN and Ed’s House, shared some of the organization’s hopes for this year’s event.
“This year’s Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice is a day that brings our community together to support Ed’s House, raises awareness, and celebrates the care and compassion our team provides every day,” Rankin told kawarthaNOW.
“It’s also an opportunity to share the personal stories of those whose lives have been touched by Ed’s House and to show our appreciation for the incredible work being done. Most importantly, we want everyone to have a great time, enjoy the outdoors, connect with others, and have some fun while supporting a truly meaningful cause.”
Every dollar raised helps the care teams at Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre provide services such as volunteer hospice support, in-home visiting hospice, education, grief and bereavement, counselling, and end-of-life care in its 10-suite hospice residence. All services are free for the families served.
Advance registration opens on Monday, August 11, and a newly updated website makes signing up easier than ever, CCN noted. Anyone who registers between August 11 and 31 will automatically have a chance to win one of three early bird prize packs.
Participants can register online as individuals, create a new team, or join an existing one. Each registrant will have access to a personalized dashboard to track donations, monitor fundraising progress, and share their journey on social media using built-in tools and custom graphics.
Also returning this year is the friendly leaderboard competition, where fundraisers can compete for the titles of “top individual fundraiser” and “top fundraising team.”
There are two-kilometre, five-kilometre, and 10-kilometre options. Kids under 12 and dogs participate for free, while individuals aged 13 and up can register for $30, which includes an official event T-shirt and race kit.
“This event is all about coming together to honour, to support, and to make a difference,” said CNN CEO Trish Baird in a statement. “Every dollar raised helps ensure Ed’s House can continue providing exceptional, compassionate hospice care across the county.”
Event sponsorship opportunities are also available. To learn more about sponsorship packages or to share a personal hospice story as part of this year’s campaign, contact Kristin Andrews at k.andrews@commcare.ca or 905-885-0466.
To learn more about the event or to register as of August 11, visit hikebikebarkforhospice.ca.
Ed’s House is a hospice centre in Hamilton Township that opened in the fall of 2020. The centre provides a comfortable setting to receive palliative support from early family engagement and beyond at no cost to hospice clients and their families.
An integral service of CCN, Ed’s House acts as a centralized hub for CCN’s interdisciplinary hospice services team by providing caregiver support, palliative outreach and education, health system navigation and grief and bereavement support in addition to resident hospice care.
