While the Sudbury Credit Union Hike for Hospice is about raising funds to supplement the operating costs at the local hospice, it’s also about remembering the lives of those who have passed away at the facility.
During the opening ceremonies for the May 7 event, the names of those who died at Maison McCulloch Hospice in 2022 were read aloud at Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in Bell Park, eliciting emotion from the audience.
The more than 100 participants in the annual event included several friend and family groups who were walking in memory of a loved one while showing support for the hospice.
“It's nice to see people coming as a group,” said Julie Aubé, executive director of Maison McCulloch Hospice. “Everyone here is sharing a similar experience, and so it's really knowing that they're not alone with their grief.”
Aubé said the goal for the event was to raise $100,000 - a fundraising number the hospice has always set for this particular event - although she figured they’d probably fall somewhat short of that amount.
She said the way money is raised has changed following the COVID-19 pandemic, with less people willing to come out to a fundraising walk than in past years.
The hospice now relies on raising money through alternate means, including a 50-50 draw and a telethon put on by a local radio station.
During the opening ceremonies, Aubé thanked the Sudbury Credit Union for being the title sponsor for Hike for Hospice since 2020.
Sudbury Credit Union has “contributed a total of $100,000 to help Maison McCulloch Hospice cover its operational expenses” during that time, she said.
The province covers 65 per cent of the hospice’s operating costs, which means they have to fundraise the balance. For Maison McCulloch Hospice, which operates 20 beds, this equates to $1.6 million per year.
“Every year, we touch the lives of thousands,” Aubé said. “We're not just a residential hospice service. We have four core services that we offer out of the hospice: visiting hospice services, grief and supportive care services or residential hospice beds, and also community hospice palliative care services.”
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s associate content editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.
