Skip to content

Gerry Lougheed: Hospice Care-A-Thon raised more than $300K

‘Your sharing has kept the hospice caring’
190721_Careathon
Bryan Cooper (Coop), morning Host on Pure Country; Ashley Bertrand, Director, Sudbury Hospice Foundation; Gerry Lougheed Jr., Chair, Sudbury Hospice Foundation board of directors.

On July 14, the second Annual Care-A-Thon was held in support of Maison McCulloch Hospice. This fundraiser is necessary because of the provincial government’s underfunding of hospice care in Ontario.

The local community must raise approximately 40 per cent of the operating dollars. In Sudbury, that means $1 million is needed to pay the yearly operating expenses. The hospice does not charge anything for its services and staff.

Sadly, we cannot cure everyone, but we can care for everyone. Our hospice staff and volunteers provide excellent care allowing people to live their last days on their own terms with respect, dignity, and love.

On July 14, our community celebrated that care by generously donating to help keep our hospice doors open. 

Donors included corporations and businesses like Desjardins, Makami Engineering, Walden Welding and Mechanical; church groups like Glad Tiding Church; the Anglican Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie; professional groups like the Sudbury Regional Police Association, families like the Vilgrens, Folignos, Ivarssons, Purdues, Wrights; and lost and lots of people who believe in the Hospice, like Paula whose family is on strike but wanted to help keep the doors open, or Gilbert Lavigne who collected cans raising $5,000. 

Literally hundreds of Sudburians called 470-HUGS raising over $300,000 – that’s a lot of hugging.

On behalf of the Sudbury Hospice Foundation, I thank everyone for making the Care-A-Thon the largest fundraising event in Maison McCulloch Hospice history. Your sharing has kept the hospice caring.

Gerry Lougheed Jr.

Board Chair, Sudbury Hospice Foundation