Rotary Hospice House Donation
Posted by Bob Hlina
The latest major donation to Prince George Hospice House expansion campaign is a $150,000 pledge by three local Rotary clubs during the next three years.
The $2.2-million campaign, which includes the latest Rotary funds, was launched nine months ago has attracted $1.8 million in funds, leaving about $300,000 to $400,000 stlll needed, said Dave Yarmish, campaign chair.
The generous pledge from Rotary has helped a lot, said Yarmish, recalling that the home was initiated by Rotary in the early 1990s.
Rotary clubs in the North had a fund targeted to build a cancer lodge for out of town patients in hopes it would help entice the B.C. government to build a cancer clinic in the North. When the proposed clinic went to Kelowna, the Rotary's seed money of about $255,000 was given to the Hospice Society for an end-of-life-care facility which the Rotarians knew would be used greatly by cancer patients. The result was the five-bed Hospice Rotary House that was the first of its kind in the province.
This 6,979-square-foot expansion being built by R.J. Cooper Construction "is really taking shape with the shingles now on, and completion date set for July with 10 new rooms on site," said Yarmish.
"Hospice House is a Rotary project, and we are always very supportive of it," said Gary Gurnsey, president of the Nechako Rotary Club.
"We are giving $15,000 now to help fund the expansion," said Gurnsey.
Ron Fichtner , president of the Prince George Rotary Club said Hospice "needs as much attention as the public can give it, along with the medical community and the government."
His club is giving $33,333 of the $50,000 pledged.
Roy Spooner, president of Yellowhead Rotary, said this year his club will deliver $25,000 of the $50,000 pledged.
"We remain committed to Hospice and the services it brings to the community. It touches each of us in some way, and people talk about the loving and dignified care received there," Spooner said.
"Those final hours are fleeting and pretty precious to a family. I'm excited about this new chapter of Hospice, and as people better understand it, I think the need for growth will be never ending."
Donalda Carson, executive director since 1994, gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support by Rotary clubs which "fund-raise throughout the year for cancer patients and the cancer clinic."
"The fact is, without Rotary this home, so greatly used by cancer patients, would not be here today."
ThePrince George Hospice Society was established in 1987 with volunteers doing palliative work and grief support in the community.