Supporters of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s palliative care organization traded their bicycle wheels for hiking boots this year and hit the trails on Sunday morning for the first-ever Hummel Family Healing Hike for Palliative Care, raising money to keep palliative care services free for NOTL residents and extend them into Niagara Falls.
The hike replaced the annual Hummel Family Healing Cycle Ride in Community Palliative Care & Wellness NOTL’s 40th year — this year’s fundraiser raised $25,000, which was matched by the Hummel family to total $50,000 for the organization.
Sonya Murray, volunteer co-ordinator for Community Palliative Care & Wellness, told The Lake Report equipment prices have climbed over the last year, as well as the rent it needs to pay to have spaces to run its programs.
“This helps us keep those things going and keep all of our services free of charge,” she said.
Community Palliative Care & Wellness has opened two support groups in Niagara Falls and wants to add visiting volunteers and equipment lending there, Murray said. NOTL programs will stay in NOTL, and the Niagara Falls operation will stand on its own.
Executive director Bonnie Bagnulo said she met with Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and council after Niagara Falls residents asked why they had no equivalent service, and council told her to come.
How much more the organization will be able to grow, she said, depends on money.
“We’re hopeful that over the next little bit of time — I don’t know how much that is — it’ll depend on donations, funding and so on,” she said.
The Hummel family has given about $150,000 over six years, Bagnulo said. Last year’s ride raised $60,000 — $25,000 of that came from the Hummels.
Murray said the walk along the Heritage Trail replaced the ride to open the fundraiser to people who could not cycle and to give participants time to talk on the trail.
Community Palliative Care & Wellness has lent equipment, sent volunteers into homes and run bereavement groups at no charge since 1986. Bagnulo said many residents pay no attention to palliative care until illness reaches their own family.
“People shy away from palliative care. They always do. You don’t need us until you need us,” she said.
In honour of its 40th anniversary, Community Palliative Care & Wellness plans to host a celebration this fall. Details will be shared in the coming weeks.
