Hospice gala a tribute to facility's founders

The Foothills Country Hospice is giving a nod to its founders at its annual fundraising gala this month.

This year’s Wranglers and Rhinestones gala Oct. 22 at the Foothills Centennial Centre is a tribute to the vision of supporters who worked tirelessly to make the facility a reality. Early fundraisers in support of efforts to build the hospice often had a Rhinestone and Wrangler theme.

“We thought we’d honour our founders and we thought we’d go back to that theme, but we’re putting a bit of a twist on it,” said hospice executive director Dawn Elliott. “It’s Wranglers and Rhinestones retro, a Dale Evans, Roy Rogers and Bonanza days event.”

Elliott said the hospice founders came from many walks of life, but they all shared a common vision to create the Foothills County Hospice.

“It’s absolutely mind-blowing how much work there was and to think that people had that vision and commitment to do it is pretty special,” she said.

It costs $2.8 million each year to run the Foothills Country Hospice. Alberta Health Services covers 61 per cent of its operating budget and the Hospice needs to raise funds to cover the remaining share, which works out to just shy of $1.1 million.

The annual dinner is the hospice’s largest fundraiser each year.

“The money that we raise from the gala goes to help fund some of our support services, such as social work and spiritual care so we’re able to provide grief support to people who need it,” said Elliott.

She said they are also looking to replace some of the patient beds in the facility, which each cost around $10,000.

The hospice welcomed its first patient in January 2008 and it now cares for approximately 130 patients each year.

“We’ve cared for almost 1,000 people since we’ve been open,” said Elliott.

It’s not just patients who are helped and supported.

Elliott said the hospice also cares for their family through the process as their loved ones entire the final phase of their life journey.

She said they want patients to feel at home and at ease.

Patients don’t pay for their stay or meals. Hospice staff will do whatever they can to make their patients wishes come true, from hosting weddings and baptisms, to bringing in beloved pets or, in one case, a horse.

“We want to make that last part of their journey as special as we can,” she said.

Sometimes something as simple as making a favourite meal will make all the difference. Elliott recalled one patient who loved lobster, but wasn’t able to go out to a restaurant for a meal, so the hospice brought it to him. While he wasn’t able to eat it, he got to experience the taste and smells one more time.

“We made a whole lobster, steak dinner with garlic toast and salad and everything,” she said. “Even though he wasn’t able to eat it, he took a bite and he still had the pleasure of smelling the food and that made everything special for him.”

Funds raised over the year help to ensure the hospice staff can give patients these experiences.

“We’re very grateful for the support of the community and the outlying areas because we are very well looked after and very appreciative of all the support we get,” she said.

On top of a succulent meal, organizers have a lot planned for this year’s gala.

The Calgary Stampede will be on hand to bring its own flare to the event. There will be line-dancing lessons, a trick roper and a silent and live auction.

“It’s going to be a great night,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of action and a lot of activities planned for the evening and I think I’m just going to say you have to come and see it.”

Once this year’s gala is wrapped up, the hospice will begin working on plans to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The gala begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $150 each and $1,200 for a table. Tickets are available at www.countryhospice.org