Walking a couple of kilometres was nothing for an Okotoks family who were able to stay close to home when a loved one was facing her final days. The Harder family made up four of the 420 walkers who participated in the Hike For Palliative Care on May 6 in support of the Foothills Country Hospice. “My mother was at the hospice for four months,” said Wes, whose mother Anne died last September. “It meant a lot to have her there at the hospice. We were able to spend the last months so close to her and being a country hospice it was so wonderful sitting outside, watching the birds and spending quality time with her.” Wes’s wife, Anita, said it meant family had an easier time visiting Anne at the hospice located just north of Okotoks. “We were able to do everyday things,” she said, after having Wes pin the word ‘Anne’ to her back. “Go to the hospice to have dinner with her or go sit on the patio and have ice cream or go for a walk on the grounds.” It also meant Anne’s grandchildren — the Harders’ three children — could make many visits with the hospice being so close to Okotoks. The country hospice went the extra mile for Anne’s husband. “They were incredibly good to my dad,” Wes said. “My dad stayed in our trailer right at the hopsice. Our trailer was parked right at the hospice for four months — my dad lived right outside the door. “That was incredibly meaningful for us having dad that close.” Ed Kujat was one of several Priddis area walking for Dale Schafer. “He was a dear friend of everybody in the Priddis community,” Kujat said. “I had two friends use the hospice prior to Dale going in there. We had done a fundraiser for the hospice before and we just felt it was important to support it. “We might have a friend – or us – who have to use it in the future and we want it to be there in the future.” Wes Harder added he was overwhelmed with the support his mom, and he and his family received during his mom’s four-month stay at the hospice. “They are the best people I have ever had contact with,” Wes said. “I was so impressed how they took care of my mom. They are always cheerful, it wasn’t a sombre place. They made it as cheerful as could be.” Stephanie Barnes of the Foothills Country Hospice said there were approximately 420 walkers and approximately $40,000 was raised. “It goes straight to the Foothills Country Hospice Society,” Barnes said. The hospice’s operating budget is $3 million, of which $1.2 million is raised through fundraisers and donations. Alberta Health covers $1.8 million of the hospice’s operating budget. Barnes said the average cost per patient is $1,027 a day. There is no cost to the family, except for use of a guestroom and family meals. There are beds in the patients’ room for guests to stay at no charge. For more information go to countryhospice.org.
