Some sleek cars, a curling friendship and a Calgarian’s kindness helped raise a few hundred thousand dollars for the Foothills Country Hospice. Sherry Payne-Philpott, executor for the Randy O’Dell estate, presented a $100,000 cheque to Rally4Hospice chairwoman Jean Quigley for the Foothills Country Hospice at a gala at Spruce Meadows on Aug. 11. “We had talked to what we would do with his estate and he left a $1-million for me to donate to various local charities,” Payne-Philpott said in an interview at the 10 Years of Caring Gala. “He said: ‘You choose who you want it to go to with my principles in mind.’ “This (the hospice) is such an amazing organization and it met all the criteria he had: something that would affect a lot of people, something that would provide hope, compassion, comfort and he wanted it local, something in Alberta.” The event and a car rally earlier in the morning netted $400,000 for the hospice, estimated Foothills Country Hospice executive director Dawn Elliott. O’Dell, who was raised in New Brunswick, moved to Calgary and started O’Dell Electric, in 1978. He died in November. He has donated millions of dollars for the Wellspring Calgary’s Randy O’Dell House in Calgary. He was not aware of the hospice but Payne-Philpott, knowing how to throw an out-turn, helped ice the donation. “I curl with Jean,” Payne-Philpott said. “Jean talked about this rally last year, and I thought I might be interested in the rally and the more I thought of the hospice, I thought this would be a place that Randy would be happy to have some of his money to go. “I know he is thrilled to have this money donated here tonight.” Quigley is an original board member of the hospice. She received a standing ovation from the approximately 200 people in attendance. The festivities kicked off on Aug. 11 with the Rally4Hospice, a car rally throughout the Foothills community, which has supported the hospice since well before the facility opened in 2008 about 1 1/2km north of Okotoks. Payne-Philpott drove O’Dell’s Mercedes in the rally. The rally winners proved that a couple can get along even after more than 25 years of marriage. Sean and Jacquie McArthur won the rally on what was their anniversary. Jacquie was the navigator and Sean drove and wisely took direction well — a key to any relationship. “This proved that we can still get along after 28 years,” Jacquie said with a laugh. The big winner was the Foothills Country Hospice Society as it raised considerable funds for the facility. One of the goals was to raise $120,000 to purchase eight new palliative care beds at approximately $15,000 each. Donors raised the money before auctioneer Danny Hooper put any of the live auction items up for sale. An amazing amount of money, but another showing of the generosity of the Foothills community that was instrumental to getting the hospice built. “The generosity of spirit and the love that went into the visioning, planning, funding, building and opening the Foothills Country Hospice will not be forgotten,” said Dr. Eric Wasylenko, one of the founders of the hospice. “We have so many of you in the room tonight to thank for it. “People who have been with us from the beginning for many years and some more recently, but all truly amazing supporters and donors.” The hospice has helped approximately 1,000 patients and their families since opening the doors in January of 2008. The cost for each patient is estimated at slightly more than $1,000 a day. The hospice’s operation budget is approximately $3-million a year, of which the hospice society must raise one-third, about $1.3-million. For more information go to countryhospice.org
