Bethell Hospice

Sharing Recipient Stories

2023 Dufferin County Community Grant Recipient
$2,325

Sharing our grant story

The 13th Annual Hike for Bethell Hospice was held on May 7, coinciding with the beginning of National Hospice Palliative Care Week. It was held as an in-person event at the Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena in Inglewood with over 400 hikers participating. The hike raised over $226,000, due in part to the support received from Dufferin County.

The Hike for Bethell Hospice generates funds in support of residents, their family members and community participants. The goal for 2023 was to raise $255,000 to contribute to the $1.7M needed to keep the doors of Bethell Hospice open and all programs and services available at no cost to those in need. Through sponsorships, online donations and community team support, the Foundation reached 89% of this goal.

The impact of the hike is felt by many community supporters and past family resident members who attend each year’s hike to connect and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

Once hikers returned from walking the trail way, they were encouraged to visit the Memory Garden to plant wildflower seeds in memory of a loved one and to personalize a velum butterfly representing hope and symbolizing transformation.

One Hike participant explains the impact of the hike on the community:

“Bethell Hospice is one of the services that really helps people who are in their final few weeks. Both of my parents have passed away recently, and this type of care comes in handy for the family. We thought the hike would be a great way to help raise funds needed by the hospice and make this service beneficial for the community and families as well. “

Recognition of Sponsors:

Bethell Hospice Foundation created a banner with sponsor logos that was displayed on the fence at the Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena where hikers met before and after the walk. The chair of the board, John Sanderson, thanked all sponsors, including Dufferin County, as part of his opening remarks.

Recognition of Dufferin County’s support was also included in our Thank You ad in the local paper and online recognition was provided on our event website. There were also numerous mentions in our social media posts thanking our Hike sponsors.