The hail and rain Friday afternoon did not dampen the mood at the site of the proposed hospice on Marquis Road. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community fundraising

$25K cheque presented to Rose Garden Hospice Association

May 10, 2019 | 5:10 PM

The group raising money for the future hospice in Prince Albert, has received a big boost.

On Friday afternoon, Malcolm Jenkins, on behalf of Canadian Tire, presented representatives from the Rose Garden Hospice Association (RGHA) with a cheque for $25,000. Jenkins agreed last week to match the money raised by the Hike for Hospice event held last Saturday.

“Why wouldn’t my competitors get involved, that’s what I wonder. Like how the Walmarts and Superstores of this world don’t do stuff stuff like this; we would have built this a lot faster,” he said.

As of Friday, roughly $3.6 million was still needed to cover construction costs. The goal has been to have construction start in the spring of 2020. Jenkins said the hospice will help a lot families in the area.

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“A bed in a hospital, a fully costed bed is about $1,100 a day and for a hospice it’s $500,” he said. “It’s half the price and it’s better care with people who are specialized in taking care of people at end of life.”

RGHA Chairperson Marina Mitchell was on hand for the cheque presentation, and said the donation made by Jenkins means a lot.

“If we did not have him behind us, we would not have the exposure that we have,” she said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell