By John Campbell, Community Press
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Warkworth – When proponents of a residential hospice in Warkworth first reached out to the public for support, they knew it was a long-term undertaking – much like a marathon race.
Their dream is drawing closer to reality and helping it along has been a run held each year as a fundraiser. The fifth one took place last Saturday and drew 100 entrants from across Ontario, including Ottawa, Toronto and Guelph.
That’s a far cry from the eight people who turned out for the first run staged five years ago.
“It was wonderful that we now have 100 people showing up,” Cheryl Gibson, chair of The Bridge Hospice, said in an interview Sunday. The Warkworth (W8) – Bridge Hospice Run is now considered “one of the best events” of the year among runners because of the beautiful scenery and an “interesting” course that covers as much trails as it does roads.
The longer course included “some fairly tricky trails” that made it “quite challenging,” said race director Bryce Miller. The trails were “a bit messy,” with ruts, loose stones and “a lot of deep holes filled with water,” Miller said, but the turnout was the best ever.
Gibson was unable to provide an approximate figure as to how much the event netted for the hospice, which faces a challenge of a different sort.
The non-profit organization is in the process of buying a one-acre lot in Warkworth and had won approval from Trent Hills council to have the land rezoned to permit the establishment of a hospice. However, an appeal has been filed by a neighbouring landowner.
“We’re hoping that’s going to get resolved very quickly,” Gibson said, so that construction can begin in the spring in order for the hospice to become operational next year – “if everything goes through.”
The Bridge Hospice has already raised almost $100,000 in cash and pledges but it needs to raise another $250,000 to pay for capital and operating costs, “to get us up and going for the first year,” Gibson said.
Miller offered praise for the 30 to 40 volunteers who helped out with last Saturday’s fundraiser. They included members of the Warkworth Community Service Club and the Warkworth fire department. And local merchants were “exceptionally supportive,” providing draw prizes.
