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Hospice campaign raises whopping $9.1M for expansion

Greater Sudbury's palliative care facility surpasses fundraising goal by $1M

The Sudbury Hospice Foundation wrapped up its three-year Stand By Me Campaign having raised a whopping $9.1 million for the expansion project at Maison McCulloch Hospice.

The campaign was launched on Feb. 22, 2017 and exceeded its original goal of $8.1 million, which was needed to expand the hospice by 16,000 square feet and add 10 beds to the palliative care facility.

Gerry Lougheed Jr., who chairs the foundation board, said the additional $1 million raised will go towards furnishing the building and purchasing state-of-the-art equipment.

"It's not just the bricks and mortar," Lougheed said. "It's the enhancement and the maintaining of the gold standard for hospice care in our community."

Construction of the expansion began in 2017, the same year the fundraising campaign was launched, and is expected to open this May.

The expansion will bring 10 additional palliative beds, three of which Lougheed hopes will help alleviate the waiting list.

"Right now we have a 94-per-cent occupancy rate on the existing building, which means most days there's a waiting list," Lougheed said. "So those three beds are going to hopefully alleviate that list at some point."

The hospice will provide the first pediatric palliative bed to be offered outside the Ottawa and Toronto areas, as well as Ontario's first respite hospice unit, which includes six beds.

These six beds will provide temporary care for people who are otherwise being cared for at home by family or friends. These respite beds will give family caregivers time to recharge or get their home organized before bringing their loved one back home.

"These are the people that very much need the support emotionally, physically or spiritually for a few days to allow that family member and those friends to be able to provide the care and the person can go back to their home," Lougheed said.

Aside from the additional beds, the lower floor of the two-storey addition will provide space for the Shared Care Team and an educational suite that will train care providers and volunteers on how to better deliver palliative care. 

"The expansion is enhancing the care on the property, but it's also enhancing the care in the community," Lougheed said.

"We talk about the bricks and mortar, but the bricks and mortar have provided the environment for the staff and volunteers who are the real hospice care. They do remarkable work in challenging circumstances."

Lougheed credits the campaign's success to the compassion shown from community members of all walks of life, from the young students at McLeod and Churchill Public Schools to members of the Royal Canadian Legion, service clubs, church groups, businesses and unions.

A generous $1 million was donated by Bruce and Sandra McCulloch on Dec. 22, 2017, leading to the rechristening of the facility to Maison McCulloch Hospice (it was formerly known as Maison Vale Hospice).

On Dec. 22, 2018, the Perdue family donated $500,000 towards the funding of the Norinne E. Perdue Centre of Excellence.

Dedicated members of the community hosted raffles, concerts, barbeques and tournaments to help reach the goal.

"It was amazing to see how the hospice brings everyone together," Lougheed said. "We know that we can't cure everybody, but we can give the best possible care for the ones we love."


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Heather Green-Oliver

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