New initiative to boost hospice project

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

A new approach is aiming to inspire other businesses and individuals in the community to think outside of the box and find a way to contribute to the Cheadle Lions’ hospice project that seeks to fill a need in keeping the terminally ill close to home.
Local home-builder Leanne Hilton, owner of Rich-Lee Custom Homes, will be donating the proceeds from the sale of one of her homes in the Hillview community to inflate the fundraising efforts for a Wheatland County hospice project.
The million-dollar initiative, which is still in its infancy, already raised a whopping $75,000, with $60,000 accumulated through the Cheadle Lions’ Feed a Steer program, over $3,000 through the Cheadle 4-H club lamb sale, and some funds received from two families who recently lost a loved one.
Hilton, who had been aware of the importance of such a facility for years, is optimistic she’ll be able to contribute at least $25,000 from the sale of the three bedroom, three bathroom, 1,564 sq. ft. bungalow-style home.
“I don’t know any one person that has not been affected by terminal disease, and if you’ve had that experience where you’ve been affected by that, you know how traumatic it is for the whole family,” said Hilton.
“This is my little piece of the pie to help and contribute to it. There’s going to be a whole bunch of other little cuts of this pie coming together to make it a whole. It may take time and that’s OK, but at least we’re on that road, we’re on that path, and it’s a good path to be on.”
Through more awareness, Hilton is hoping that more community members will get involved and create a snowball effect to move the project further along.
Having had experience with the Cheadle Lions Club in the past, when she co-founded Project H.O.P.E – a community-based program providing therapy to children diagnosed with severe physical, social, emotional and behavioural challenges – Hilton approached members of the club and local realtor Katelyn Haffner with Century 21 Real Estate to get her idea off the ground.
While there is no concrete dollar amount for the overall cost of the project, the Cheadle Lions Club predicted it will cost a few million dollars. With fundraising efforts already well underway, a boost from the sale’s proceeds would propel their efforts further along.
“Here we have done basically our first full year of funding and this would be a 30 per cent bump up on what we’ve accomplished so far,” said Sonny Warrack, member of the Cheadle Lions Club. “Financially this is huge, but even bigger would be to have the community leaders… that’s the real plug. I think it’s going to help us move even faster to make it go ahead even better.”
After a successful trial with their Feed a Steer project, the club is already gearing up for the initiative to launch again in October – this time with double the amount of steers, at 40.
The Strathmore home, with its big windows, breathtaking view, and all the bells and whistles, is listed for $689,900 with full commission being offered to the real estate agents bringing a buyer. The Cheadle Lions Club will be present at their booth during the Strathmore Stampede this weekend, to provide more information as well as donation forms.
“It’s important for our residents to have this as an asset in the community when that unfortunate time comes that they require that,” Warrack said. “We feel it’s horrible that families in our area, Strathmore, and the county area do not have this available for them, when that need is there to keep them closer to their families.”
For more information about the regional hospice project contact Sonny Warrack at 403-312-7189. If interested or for more information regarding the property, contact Katelyn Haffner at 403-324-9999.