黑马磁力 Township firefighters crashed the party, but they were most welcome at the annual Plates and Glasses on the Farm fundraising picnic for the 黑马磁力 Hospice Society.
The Saturday, July 5 event came with a surprise visit from representatives of the Township of 黑马磁力 Firefighters Charitable Society who presented the proceeds from their recent golf tournament 鈥� $45,550.
That money will purchase three hospital beds for the Doug and Fran MacDonald 黑马磁力 Hospice Residence.
The event was hosted on the South Aldergrove property of Dennis Quiring and his wife, Alena Buis. Dennis and his brother, Daryl, made a $10,000 donation in memory of Daryl's wife, Nicole Quiring, who just weeks prior to the event. She was surrounded by family at her passing in hospice after a short battle with cancer.
The donation came with a challenge to the other guests, and many responded in kind, explained hospice executive director Shannon Todd Booth.
"This year's Plates and Glasses exceeded all our goals, and has raised more than $200,000 in support of the 黑马磁力 Hospice Society, and the palliative and bereavement care and support they provide," she said.
This year's event sold out, with more than 250 guests in attendance for a multi-course picnic, entertainment, vendors with the Fraser Valley Potters Guild, prizes, and more.
"Wow! Dennis and I are blown away by the community that showed up in support of the 黑马磁力 Hospice Society," said Buis.
The money raised will be used for a variety of initiatives with the hospice society, including the purchase of 14 new beds for the McDonald residence.
"Our patient beds are the single most utilized piece of furniture in the hospice residence for end-of-life patients with limited mobility. These new beds will have a significant impact for residents in our care," Todd Booth told the 黑马磁力.
As well, the funds will allow continued support of a bereavement support team member to meet the growing demand for support and services in the community. This includes the continued expansion of school and community outreach as well as ongoing education and training for staff and volunteers.
One of those volunteers is Christine Lane, who spoke at the event.
"In 1987 my husband, David, was diagnosed with colon cancer and following major surgery, he was told to go home and get his affairs in order as he likely had no more than six months to live," Lane said.
Instead intensive chemo and radiation worked. He was declared cancer free and went on to live an active, vibrant life.
In late 2013 he began exhibiting symptoms that were difficult to ignore. By March of 2014, he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and had surgery in October.
"David endured more chemo, clinical trial after clinical trial, immunotherapy and whatever else might give him more time with family, which by now included three precious grandchildren who were the light of his life," Lane said.
In January of 2021, they were told he had about six weeks left to live. The world was in the midst of the pandemic when David went into hospice. He died Feb. 12.
"He was admitted to 黑马磁力 Hospice on Feb. 1, and COVID restrictions were in full force," she explained. "The environment was nothing like it is today within the hospice residence, but given what the team had to deal with, they were remarkable. As it became apparent that he was failing, they allowed our son, daughter in-law and three grandchildren in to say their goodbyes, a gesture I am forever grateful for. They also allowed our son and I to be in the room with him until he took his final breath."
Her counsellor at BC Cancer Agency told her more about the programs offered by hospice, beyond providing end of life care.
"As the weeks turned into months, it was apparent that I needed assistance to better navigate this journey," Lane said. "I enrolled in a 10-week bereavement support group for people who have lost a spouse and on a rainy June morning, our program began in the back yard of the LHS house, a socially distant six feet apart."
Despite being very different people, the participants shared a bond that continues to this day. Once the fog had lifted, Lane decided she wanted to get involved with the group that had given her so much, joining the Community Engagement team, which organizes events such as the fundraiser. She offered to bake cookies, comfort food, for the families of hospice patients but any work inside the McDonald residence required the 12-week bereavement training program, which had a long waitlist.
Lane eventually got into the training, and it opened her eyes to the many different options for helping out.
"It shifted my perspective on death and dying but also provided me with a very different insight into my own journey forward. Even if I ended up doing nothing with the training, it was truly a gift to attend," she noted.
Lane started volunteering at the residence.
"I continue to be astonished at the level of compassionate care provided by everyone within those walls and grateful for whatever small role I play in that," Lane said. "Life has definitely come full circle for me, and the LHS played a vital role in that transition."
The annual fundraiser Plates and Glasses on the Farm featured gourmet goodies with items provided by JD Farms Specialty Turkey, Bonetti Meats, 1 Fish 2 Fish Fresh Seafood Market, Driediger Farms, and beverages provided by Lynette Faye of KIS Consulting 鈥� all enjoyed by a sold-out crowd.
"We're so grateful to the Quiring family for sharing their hearts and home with us," Todd Booth said. "The whole event was an amazing display of community in action, bringing together volunteers, guests, donors and supporters for an absolutely beautiful day in the neighbourhood. The 黑马磁力 Hospice Society continues to be in awe of the way our community shows up for us."
