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(Photo: Dreamstime.com / Noipornpan)
By Abby Zieverink
Walk Fundraiser

Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society fundraising for palliative bed with virtual walk

Sep 12, 2021 | 5:00 AM

The Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society is hosting a virtual walk fundraiser on September 18, to raise money for a new bed in one of the palliative rooms at the Prairie Lake Hospice Facility.

Samantha Turvey, who is the Training Coordinator at the Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society says due to the COVID-19 numbers rising, they decided to host the walk virtually this year.

“We encourage people to send us pictures or let us know where they’re walking, because it’s virtual we don’t have to do it all together, but we do encourage people to participate in the walk if they can.”

Turvey mentioned the palliative bed they are fundraising for is an air mattress system, which helps patients feel more comfortable in their final days.

“It helps patients from developing bedsores, helps relieve pressure to keep them comfortable without having to be moved, which can be painful for them,” she explained.

“When it relieves pressure, it helps so people don’t have to move them as much, because it can be pretty painful when you’re in your last days having to be moved around so that you don’t get bedsores.”

The new bed they are fundraising for costs roughly $20,000, which will replace one of the ten palliative room beds at the hospice.

Turvey says currently, they have raised just over $2,700 for the bed.

“Eventually, we would like to replace all the beds in the hospice, but because they’re so costly, we would like to just start with just one and see how that goes.”

Residents can sign up for the walk or donate on the Grand Parade website. Turvey says residents can participate anytime throughout the day on September 18.

“You can create a team, walk by yourself, you can walk with friends, or you can donate directly to us as well,” Turvey notes that donations over $20 will receive an emailed tax receipt.

by Abby Zieverink