Young Paris woman lacing up for Annual Hike for Hospice in honour of her mom

Daneka Miller’s remarkable journey with Stedman Community Hospice has led to more than $70,000 raised…. and counting

By Casandra Turnbull

The 20th Annual Hike or Bike for Hospice is just weeks away and individuals and teams are busy fundraising in support of Stedman Community Hospice

Everyone has a personal reason why they’re involved but many have one thing in common: they’ve witnessed and embraced the love and compassion of volunteers and staff at Stedman Hospice and want to ensure this free end of life service remains available for years to come.

The Stedman Hospice opened in 2004, only years after the closure of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brantford. Staff and volunteers have provided compassionate end of life care to more thousands of individuals over the last 20 years, relying on the community for approximately 35% of its annual costs, says Julie Powell, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation, the official fundraising organization for Stedman Community Hospice.

“This support allows us to provide end-of-life care at no charge to those who need it In addition to end-oflife care both in the Hospice itself and in the community through our outreach program, Stedman Community Hospice also has a number of grief and bereavement programs for family members who have been impacted by the death of a loved one,” explains Powell, recognizing it wouldn’t be possible without the community. The Hike or Bike for Hospice provides most of that community-based fundraising, as well as other smaller annual events, memorial donations, or estate gifts

There’s a lot of love, laughter and tears as Hike for Hospice participants gather annually and share stories, memories, and support one another, while raising crucial funds to ensure the no-charge concept remains around for future families to have access to dignified end of life care without anxiety and financial stress.

When Daneka Miller’s mother Cindy passed away seven years ago, the then 13-year-old’s world changed forever. The profound impact of losing a parent was softened in part by the wonderful staff and volunteers she met during her mother’s 38 days at the facility

Cindy also benefited from the Hospice’s outreach program prior to admission to a hospice bed. “I think that when you are so young (I was 13) and losing a parent, you have to have a community to fall back on,” says Daneka. “You still have so much more life to live, and they have provided me with an outlet to both honour my mom and thank them for what they do at the same time.”

Stedman hospice went above and beyond, as they do with every family, to provide comfort for everyone in Cindy’s final weeks. They even hosted Daneka’s grade 8 graduation at the hospice, inviting 10 of Daneka’s friends to graduate in front of Cindy, who was a teacher and truly valued education. It was a day of glimmer and hope for everyone involved and a memory Daneka can carry with her the rest of her life. Stedman Hospice provides more than care, adds Daneka, it’s essential healthcare and “the fact that they’re not funded by the government makes me just want to help more.”

Daneka was the tender age of 13 years old when her mother passed away, but the financial significance of the situation was not lost on her. To this day, she has an acute understanding of the pressures families face in the direst situations.

“The hospice took care of my mom for over 38 days and each one of those days costs almost $500. Could you imagine if you had received a bill at the end of that? To me, the ability to provide cost-free end of life care that does not delay the process of dying but makes it more comfortable is so essential.”

So, a mere two months after her mom’s passing, Daneka – on the verge of her elementary school graduation yet with more hard life experience that most adults – decided she needed to honour her mom and make her proud by participating in the Hike for Hospice.

“My mom was my biggest role model and supporter and I think that is why it is so important to me to keep on with the hospice work, because she would want to be able to give back and allow other families to receive the care that we had when we were there,” said Daneka.

Since 2017 Daneka has raised approximately $70,000 for Stedman Hospice. She’s had the support of 10-20 close family and friends along the way. Last year’s fundraising, one of her best years yet, yielded a total of $10,121, or 20 days of care, she points out.

“I never thought that six years later I would be beating my (fundraising) totals.”

To those that know Daneka, her determination, compassion and success are no surprise – all characteristics she inherited from her mother. And her mother’s presence is all around her every day It’s the subtle signs like butterflies and dimes on the ground that make her pause and smile as she thinks about all the memories of her mom that she holds so dear to her heart.

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Daneka’s most cherished memories of her mom are the adventures they would take together – shopping in Buffalo, girls’ night out dinners, outdoor trips.

The resilience and strength of this young Paris woman does not go unnoticed by those at St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation

“Daneka is a treasure,” says Powell “She has turned a tragic event in her life, the loss of her mom at the young age of 13, into providing help to others who need it She is the epitome of what it is to live in a state of gratitude. Not only does she fundraiser for us, she helps out as a volunteer whenever she can,” said Powell, referring to Daneka as a wonderful ambassador for Stedman Community Hospice.

The 20th Annual Hike or Bike for Hospice takes place on Sunday, May 5th . There are several ways to support the event; you can donate to an individual like Daneka through her online campaign, make a direct donation to the event itself, register to participate and fundraiser or become an event sponsor.

Organizers have set a $160,000 fundraising goal this year.

Daneka’s team ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go!’ have an online campaign that accepts all donations. You can make your pledge online here until May 4th . She’s set a $5,000 goal this year and has raised $1100 so far

Registration for the Hike for Hospice opens at 8:30 a m on May 5th The day begins with those participating in the bike portion of the event departing at 9:00 a m from Woodman Park Community Centre

A moving Celebration of Life Ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by words of inspiration and encouragement from keynote speakers. A fun and lighthearted warm-up gets the crowd ready to hike, all the while surrounded by family, friends and fun games and activities. A light boxed lunch is available for all who have registered following the hike which starts at 11:00 a.m.

To learn more about the walk, its ambassadors, sponsors and volunteers, visit www.stedmanhike.ca