The annual Hike for Hospice Fundraiser and Family Fun Day coming up Sunday, May 7 at Scout Island Nature Centre is a perfect opportunity to kick off the spring season by spending a fun day with family while supporting a vital and growing need in the community, say event organizers.
Cat in the Hat will be there to entertain children.
There will also be programs for children ages four to 13.
Participants who complete all of the activities will receive a voucher for one free Summer Nature Fun Program at the centre this summer.
The nature centre summer staff will be there to provide engaging activities along the trails to bring participants closer to the natural world.
Interpretive stations will also be set up along the walk.
There will also be draw prizes and more, say organizers.
The Nature House will also be open to explore.
Cody’s Bannock and Franny’s Flippin Burgers will be on site from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for lunch or dinner.
The event runs rain or shine, but the hope is for lots of sunshine.
The Williams Lake Hospice Society is working in collaboration with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association to host the event.
On-site registration begins at noon and activities take place between 1 and 4 p.m.
Hospice society staff and volunteers will join families, individuals and groups in running, walking, strolling or rolling around the Scout Island nature trails.
Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
The best part of this event is that 100 percent of the funds raised in Williams Lake stay in Williams Lake, organizers say.
Money raised will be used to increase support services for clients at end-of-life and their families.
Client comfort care, increased services and bereavement support services for those left behind are on-going needs in Williams Lake.
Whether you walk in memory of a loved one or simply to enjoy the beauty of Scout Island, participants will support the local hospice work and ensure individuals in Williams Lake and area receive the best end-of-life care and support possible, say organizers.
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association is the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada and is a charitable non-profit association whose mission is the pursuit of excellence in care for people approaching death so that the burdens of suffering, loneliness and grief are lessened.
Hike for Hospice Palliative Care is not only to raise much needed funds for hospice palliative care, but also to increase awareness of the many challenges faced by hospice palliative care and promote the amazing work that hospice volunteers and professionals perform on a daily basis, say organizers.
Funds raised through the hike will ensure that more Canadians receive the end-of-life care they wish for.
The hike is the largest single-day hospice palliative care fundraising and awareness activity in Canada, taking place in more than 100 communities across the country.
Participants can register on the event day or register in advance on-line as an individual hiker (no registration fee) or form a walking group @ http://chpca.convio.net/WilliamsLakeHospiceSociety and fundraise on-line.
Pledge forms are also available at the WLHS office located at 530 Fourth Ave. North; phone 250-392-5430.