The weather may have been unpredictable, but the Chatham-Kent community was steady as hundreds showed up for the 8th annual Hike for Hospice.
The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation reported that more than 500 people showed up for the event at Mud Creek trail on Sunday.
"It was so touching to see so many people walking together on the trail and all the memorial signs are just a reminder of the impact Hospice has made in our community," said Ginny Hawken the Hike for Hospice Event Co-Chair.
For a week leading up to the event, the trail has displayed signs representing loved ones who have passed on and the event's corporate sponsors.
This year, the walk raised a record amount of money.
"Through the pledges collected by all our hikers, as well as our sponsors, a Hike best of $167,500 and still counting," Hawken stated.
The Chatham-Kent Hospice is a 10-bed residential facility that offers care for residents facing end of life and support for their loved ones. The funds raised will go toward providing end-of-life care including residential hospice care, care coordination, and grief and bereavement support to local families at no cost to them.
To date, close to one million has been raised through Hike for Hospice Chatham-Kent to support families in need of hospice services.