Staff from Frank Dunn Toyota presented the Rose Garden Hospice Association with a donation of more than $11,000 Wednesday. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

By Teena Monteleone

Hospice Donation

Donations despite pandemic keep hospice association confident

Sep 30, 2020 | 3:00 PM

To say Marina Mitchell has been on a long journey is an understatement. For 13 years, she’s been fundraising to create the first stand-alone hospice in Saskatchewan here in Prince Albert.

The idea for the end-of-life care facility started after Mitchell lost her mother to cancer. Since then, she and the Rose Garden Hospice Association have managed to secure land, provincial operating dollars and fundraise more than $2.4 million toward a $4 million goal.

“I guess what renews my hope every time I feel like we’ll never reach our goals or we’re not raising enough money is when I talk to someone who has been through a similar experience. Cheryl Sander with Tim Hortons for example has a backstory of her Mom with cancer. So every time I talk to someone who it happens to – and it’s unfortunate you have to go through something like that to really realize the huge benefit a hospice would be for families and our community – that always renews my spirit to keep going.”

Sander and the local Tim Hortons locations are donating proceeds from a recent Smile Cookie Campaign to the hospice – a total expected to be more than $18,000.

Mitchell also finds renewed hope in donors like Frank Dunn Toyota. As part of a pledge the dealership made through the Prince Albert Automobile Dealers’ Association, they issued a cheque Wednesday for more than $11,000. The total included funds raised through a recent outdoor drive-in movie night they hosted in their parking lot.

Raiders win series 4-1

Scorzynski in overtime: Raiders move to round two with win over Rebels

2h ago

Twist on a classic

Regina board game designer puts new spin on crokinole

16h ago

Spring in Saskatchewan

Calm, dry weather expected across much of Saskatchewan over Easter weekend

16h ago

“Prince Albert needs a hospice. From a personal standpoint, I’ve watched people go through it and there’s no question it’s a great cause and something that’s needed in our community,” Frank Dunn Toyota partner Peter Simpson said.

Fundraising during a pandemic hasn’t been easy. The hospice association had to cancel events including its hike for hospice and without being able to see potential donors in person, Mitchell said it’s hard to ask for money.

“We want to make it as personal as possible so that’s been hard for us. We have all these great fundraising ideas but how do you do it if you can’t have more than 50 people together. So, we’re trying to find different ways of fundraising,” she said.

Still, Mitchell is optimistic the hospice will take shape sooner than later. Donations can be made online or at the Rose Garden Hospice Association office located in the Gateway Mall on Tuesdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

—

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow