OTTAWA, May 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 6, 2012, thousands of Canadians of all ages will gather on walking paths, parks, and hiking trails across Canada to celebrate the 10th Annual Hike for Hospice Palliative Care. Although organized as a national event, each Hike is hosted locally.
"We created this event so that local hospice palliative care programs across the country without the capacity or staff to organize an event of this scale on their own are able to raise much needed funds," stated Sharon Baxter, Executive Director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA). "In May 2011, over 100 hike sites participated across Canada and raised $1.6M, with 100% of those funds remaining in their local communities."
This year, the CHPCA created the Hike for Hospice Palliative Care Power of 10 Campaign, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Hike. This campaign encourages Canadians to speak to 10 people – friends, family, co-workers, and family doctors – about the importance of hospice palliative and end-of-life care. It encourages us all to tell 10 friends, who tell another 10, who each tell 10 more, effectively growing the hospice palliative care community.
"With an aging population in Canada, the demand for hospice palliative care services will continue to increase. Events like the hike help us raise awareness for quality hospice palliative care," stated Sarah Walker, President, CHPCA, "Become a voice! Ask 10 people to donate. Start your own Hike. Get 10 friends to Hike with you." It is currently estimated that only 16% to 30% of Canadians who die currently have access to or receive hospice palliative and end-of-life care services – depending on where they live in Canada. With a predicted increase in deaths to more than 330,000 by the year 2020, access to hospice palliative care is becoming more critical with every passing year.
"The Hike is an important event for raising awareness of, and funds for, hospice palliative care programs and services across the country," said Alison Pozzobon, The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. "We are proud to be the founding sponsor of the Hike for Hospice Palliative Care and our employees are eager to participate in the hike at various sites across Canada as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations."
As in past years, 100% of the funds raised through the Hike remain in the local community, thanks to funding provided by Hike for Hospice Palliative Care founding sponsor, The GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, compassion level sponsor Bayshore Home Health, and dignity level sponsor Purdue Pharma.
A complete list of all participating Hike sites and additional information is available on the CHPCA website at www.chpca.net.
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association -- the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada – is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in care for persons approaching death so that the burdens of suffering, loneliness and grief are lessened. The CHPCA operates in close partnership with other national organizations and continues to work to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of where they may live, have equal access to quality hospice palliative care services for themselves and their family.
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12720
