Damp weather didn’t discourage a record turnout for the Hike for Hospice May 1. Just over 80 participants including children and dogs, enjoyed a spring walk at the Mill of Kintail, raising over $13,500 for Hub Hospice. We aimed high this year, trying to raise 50% more than last year, and we made it thanks to the generosity and support of our community, and to their commitment to the program offered by Hub Hospice.
Early registrants were treated to muffins and coffee to the accompaniment of the Ukulele Ladies whose repertoire of songs included, appropriately, “These Boots are Made for Walking”. Gary Pollock, to whom the hike was dedicated, and councillor Alex Gillis, who represented the Mayor of Mississippi Mills, were on hand for the ribbon cutting to start the event. Post-hike, adults, kids and dogs crowded into the Gatehouse at the entrance to the Mill of Kintail to enjoy refreshments donated the Ramsay Women’s Institute, HFT Donuts, and Carole Morris. Following this prizes were awarded in 13 categories. Adults won prizes, as did kids and dogs.
We, the Hub Hospice Hike Committee, want to offer a huge thank you to our 10 event sponsors, to our 26 businesses, organizations, and individuals who donated items for our gift baskets, to more than 20 volunteers who helped make the day work, to the refreshment donors, and to the Ukulele ladies who got our toes tapping before the hike. We are also extremely grateful to Bayshore Home Health for their help in organizing the hike, and for their co-payment of $5 per participant. Last, but certainly not least, we would also like to thank our four husbands who lived Hike for Hospice with us for 4 months.
Our major financial sponsors deserve individual mention. Our sincere thanks to Wes Zacharuk Insurance Group – the Cooperators, the Rotary Club of Carleton Place and Mississippi Mills, The Mills Community Support, the Silver Poodle Pet Grooming, Neilcorp Homes, The Mississippi Mills Animal Hospital, the Almonte Veterninary Services, Sports Systems, Tierney Stauffer Lawyers, and Rexall Pharmaplus.
Our gift basket donors also deserve individual mention. We are so grateful for their generosity: Peche et Poivre, MBNA, The Hub, Action and Video, Pet Valu, JBArts, Silver Poodle, Temple’s Sugar Bush, Cartwright Brewery, Ryno Motors, Lola Dot, HFT Donuts, Julia Thomas, Gilligallou Bird, Patrice’s Independent Grocer, the Almonte and District Horticultural Society, the Almonte Potters Guild, Heather Billngs, Judy Lawton, Baker Bob’s, Pat Coderre, and Almonte Natural Foods.
To you all, a huge thanks from the Hike for Hospice Committee – Barbara Carroll, Eloise Caverson, Glenda Jones, and Brenda Donnelly.
