Hundreds of people hiked through Bell Park Sunday afternoon to remember their loved ones who have passed away and support Maison Vale Hospice with the RBC Hike for Hospice.
Stephanie Mathieu was surrounded by 30 friends and family, all dressed as yellow and black bumble bees, in remembrance of her mother Brenda Roberts.
“She was queen bee,” Mathieu said. “She was Queen Brenda and we’re her worker bees.”
Roberts passed away at Maison Vale Hospice on May 10, 2015 but her daughter said she was able to say goodbye to her family in a peaceful and loving setting.
“It was more than we could have asked for,” she said. “She really felt peace at the end of her journey.”
Brenda’s Bees raised nearly $7,000 to help support the hospice.
Last year the RBC Hike for Hospice raised $150,000, and this year’s event set the ambitious goal of at least matching that amount.
Léo Therrien, executive director of Maison Vale Hospice, said they will count the total funds raised on Monday.
He added the event gets strong support from the community each year because more than 1,100 families have visited their loved ones at the hospice.
Olympic gold medallist Brad Jacobs represented sponsor RBC at the walk, but said the hike was also very personal.
His wife’s uncle Bruno died last year at the ARCH Hospice in Sault Ste. Marie.
“Much like your hospice here it’s really quite an amazing place to visit,” Jacobs said.
He was wearing Bruno’s old cycling shirt during the hike to pay him tribute.
Jacobs added Sudbury should be proud of the support the community has given Maison Vale Hospice.
“What a great example this event puts on for other hikes,” he said.
