RBC Hike for Hospice aims to raise $155K

To help kick off Maison Vale Hospice's ninth annual Hike for Hospice, the RBC donated $15,000 to the cause.

“I know the event has grown bigger and bigger, and so does our support,” said Bill Bray, RBC's vice-president of commercial financial services for the Northern Lakes region.

The bank has been the event's title sponsor for the last eight years.
Since the first Hike for Hospice in 2007, the event has raised more than $802,000 to help cover the hospice's operational costs.

The province covers costs for the hospice's frontline nurses and personal support workers, but it must fundraise to keep the lights on, heat the building, pay for food and other costs, said Léo Therrien, Maison Vale Hospice's executive director.

Therrien said the walk – which has attracted hundreds of participants in recent years – has consistently raised $150,000 the past three years.

The goal for the 2015 walk, which takes place Sunday, May 3, in Bell Park, is to bring in at least $155,000 for the hospice.

“People want to give back because they appreciate the support and they want to encourage the hospice,” Therrien said.

In addition to a cheque presentation by RBC, Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger declared the week starting May 1, 2015, as Hospice Palliative Care Week.

Registration for the hike starts at 11 a.m. on May 3, near the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre, and the hike will begin at 1 p.m.

To participate in the hike, or for more information, contact Roxanne Langemann, Maison Vale Hospice's fund development co-ordinator, at [email protected] or by calling 705-674-9252 ext. 226.

Original story

Maison Vale Hospice and RBC Royal Bank launced the 2015 RBC Hike for Hospice Palliative Care this morning.

The event takes place May 3 at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre.

This story will be updated.