About 50 brave souls turned out today (May 7) for the cause of making a hospice a reality in the city of Airdrie.

People hiked the trail in East Lake Park at the annual "Hike for Hospice."  Despite the cool, windy conditions, no one seemed to mind because the event helped support such a good cause.

City councillor and Airdrie and District Hospice Society board member Kelly Hegg says this is the group's biggest fundraiser.  "It's a chance to get out, enjoy a little bit of Airdrie, take a walk on the paths and just think about what can happen when eventually we get a hospice in Airdrie."

Hegg says a hospice in Airdrie would be a great addition to the city.  "Right now we're pretty lucky, there's a hospice just to the south of us in Evanston, but it would sure be a lot nicer for people in the area to stay in Airdrie and not commute as far to go see their loved one,"

Hospice care and palliative care are not subjects that many people are comfortable with, according to board President Lise Blanchette.  "If you're not familiar with it, a lot of times there's not much interest in it.  They don't really know what it's about and they're afraid to talk about it because it involves end of life and people aren't comfortable with that topic."  For that reason, building awareness is just as important as raising funds for the Airdrie and District Hospice Society.

Hegg says not until you experience the need of hospice care through a loved one do you realize the need to make it a part of a person's life.  "When it comes to a close, making it as comfortable as possible.  Making it so it's also supportive of the people that are supporting the person going through that stage of their life."

Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown, Airdrie Wildrose MLA Angela Pitt and Banff-Airdrie Conservative MP Blake Richards all turned out this morning to support the Airdrie and District Hospice Society in their efforts.

 

 Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com