The 14th annual Hike for Hospice takes place May 1 and at least one Tri-City politician taking part has a bit of history with the society that runs it.
Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay has participated in nearly every one of annual pledge-driven fundraising hikes hosted by PoMo-based Crossroads Hospice Society.
Back when the society was getting started, Clay, whose background is in IT, volunteered to connect its computer network. While volunteering, Clay got a chance to chat and visit with many patients.
“I went in there to hook up some computers and ended up learning an awful lot more about a hospice and end-of-life care and why it is important, and seeing how it affected all of the families,” he said.
A few years ago, as his own mother was entering the last few weeks of her life, she went to Crossroads Inlet Centre Hospice.
“When I was there with my mom and saw how unbelievably caring and compassionate and how well they treated my mom and our family, it was like ‘wow.’ It’s the little things that make all the difference.”
When Clay participates in the annual hike, he said he goes through a range of emotions.
“It helps me. I think get through my personal loss when you look around and think every one of these people has a personal connection. Everybody else has a story, everybody else has a family member and everybody else has gone through this at some point in their life, and we’re all there for the same reason, which I think is to remember, reflect and give to the charity that supports the organization that was so important to all of us.
“You are there because you have gone through the same thing,” said Clay, who often MCs the event.
THE DETAILS
• This year’s Hike For Hospice takes place Sunday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, starting at the Port Moody city hall, 100 Newport Dr. The event is part of a national series of events to raise funds to support people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones. All funds raised remain in the community to help Crossroads Hospice Society, which serves residents in the Tri-Cities and New Westminster. You may register for the Hike online or pledge your support by visiting www.crossroadshospicesociety.com.
