More than 100 walkers of all ages strolled through the streets near the Visiting Nurse Association and Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso on April 22nd in support of the 6^th Annual VNA ‘Stroll for Hospice’. Adding to the enjoyment of a beautiful spring day, walkers were able to take advantage of the new pathway on Vale Park Road for the first time since the event began in 2002.

This year, Stroll for Hospice took on an international flair as teacher Chris Gaffner from River Forest High School in Lake Station led a large team of students from around the world. Students from Ghana, the Philippines, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Russia, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Germany, Turkey and Azerbaijan not only learned about the concept of hospice, but got an education in our uniquely American, grassroots approach to fundraising and community awareness. Ms. Gaffner said her students are anxious to get home and share what they have learned here, to raise awareness and meet needs in their own communities.

Event sponsors included the Harold and Margaret "Sis" Heinold Foundation, the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, Porter, Angelcrest, Centier Bank, First National Bank of Valparaiso, North Coast Distributing, Focus Enterprises, Firstcare, McGill/Emerson Power Transmission, GE Marshall Inc., Valparaiso American Legion Auxiliary, Tudor Floors, Arbor View Animal Hospital and Design Organization.

Raffle prizes and supplies were provided by Family Express, Town & Country, Chicago Street Theater, Fast Coffee/Naturel Water, David's Mens Clothier, Tudor Services, Brandy's Lock & Key, Wiseway, Costas Soft Touch, Bill and Carol Koss, Blondie’s, Bon Femme Cafe, Deb Killion, Inn at Aberdeen, Lynda Krueger, Memorial Opera House, Panera Bread, Philips Ace Hardware, Bill Spicer, Deb Springer, Rachel Rosati, Arlene Gross, Patty Rooney and Mary Ann Konopacki.

Music for the event was provided by Orison, a talented group of musicians from St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Valparaiso.

Individuals receiving awards were Bill Koss, who raised the highest dollar amount in sponsorships and Martha Arroyo, who had the greatest number of sponsors.

Team awards were split between a veteran team and a new team. Longtime hospice supporters Oestreich's Angels received the team award for raising the highest dollar amount in sponsorships, while newcomer River Forest High School team received the award for the greatest number of sponsors.

Nearly $25,000 was raised through corporate sponsorships and individual and team sponsorships.

Since 1983, the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice program has helped terminally ill patients and their families with their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and enabled them to prepare for death with peace and dignity. "The Stroll for Hospice is a wonderful way to raise funds to help us provide hospice care and to help the community learn more about the benefits of hospice," said Patty Rooney, VNA nurse and chairman of the event.

The mission of hospice has always been to help people die with dignity, at home, with their loved ones by their side. But hospice goes even further. It not only comforts the patient, but reaches out to the family as well, helping loved ones through the experience of loss and grief. The VNA provides hospice care wherever the patient calls home, whether it is the patient's home, the home of a loved one, assisted living facility, extended care facility or at the Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center.

Memories of the

2006 Stroll for Hospice

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Stroll for Hospice raises $16,000

More than 120 walkers strolled the streets around the Visiting Nurse Association and Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso on Sunday in support of the VNA Hospice program. Nearly $16,000 was raised through corporate sponsorships and individual and team sponsorships.

Corporate sponsors included Nipsco, Margaret Heinold, Porter, Angelcrest, Chester Inc., Centier Bank, GE Marshall Inc., Burns Funeral Home, BPOE Hobart Elks, Valparaiso American Legion Auxiliary and Design Organization. Raffle prizes and supplies were provided by Family Express, Town & Country, Chicago Street Theater, Fast Coffee/Naturel Water, Brandy's Lock & Key, Wiseway, Costas Oil, White Lodging Services, Culinary Connection, Sharon Dumay, Carol Koss and Rachael Collins.

Individuals receiving awards were Bill Koss, highest dollar amount in sponsorships and Terri Jean Kuss, greatest number of sponsors. The Marching O’s/Oestreich’s Angels received the team award for collecting the highest dollar amount in sponsorships and the team from Angelcrest received the award for the largest number of sponsors.

Grace Higbie, a first grader from Kouts raised $349 to support hospice selling her home-grown pumpkins during the event. Says Grace, "It just came to me as a way to help people. I hear my dad talking about hospice. I have been to the Hospice Center to see a friend and thought this would be a good way to help." Grace and her grandfather, Wendell Werner planted 35 pumpkin seeds last spring, and spent the summer cultivating them to be harvested especially for the Stroll. (Grace's father, Kouts businessman Bill Higbie, is a member of the VNA Hospice Advisory Committee.)

Since 1983, the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice program has helped terminally ill patients and their families with their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and enabled them to prepare for death with peace and dignity.  “The Stroll for Hospice is a wonderful way to raise funds to help us provide hospice care and to help the community learn more about the benefits of hospice,” said Patty Rooney, VNA nurse and chairman of the event.

The mission of hospice has always been to help people die with dignity, at home, with their loved ones by their side. But hospice goes even further. It not only comforts the patient, but the family, as well, helping loved ones through the very difficult stages of grieving afterward. The VNA provides hospice care wherever the patient calls home, whether it is the patient’s home, the home of a loved one, assisted living facility, extended care facility or at the Arthur B. and Ethel V. Horton VNA Hospice Center.