Charity lamb supports Cheadle Lions’ hospice project

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

The Cheadle Lions Club’s latest million-dollar initiative recently received a little financial support with the help of a little lamb with a great value. The Cheadle 4-H Club auctioned off the charity lamb three times; each time it was donated back to the cause of funding a hospice project in Wheatland County.
Although Heather Hebbes and her family have been involved in raising charity lambs where donations went towards the children’s hospital, she is aware of the growing need for a hospice in the area.
“It’s good for the kids to give back,” Hebbes said. “I think a hospice is in great need here, because we only have one palliative care bed at our hospital, and we serve such a large area. It’ll be nice for families to have someone closer by, than to have to travel to Calgary. It’s a good thing to do.”
Hebbes’s two children, Kylee and Landon, raised “Annie” who was initially bought by the Eagle Lake Nurseries for $13.50/lb. The animals was then donated back, and auctioned off again for $11.50/lb to Peak Contracting in Calgary. When the lamb was returned again, Tri West Agro in Rosebud acquired the animal for $9/lb.
Weighing in at 98 lbs, an additional $3,200 was donated to the Cheadle Lions Club’s hospice project, raising the total to over $65,000.
“Without making it seem like a small amount, because it’s not, the real benefit to us was getting the word out to a lot of people in our community and the county,” said Cheadle Lions Club member Sonny Warrack. “It was out in a public place, and that was huge for us. But the money is excellent. It’s going to cost us a lot to build this place. We’re going to need some big-time partners. Our club, we want to initiate this project and we’re going to follow through on it, so we’re going to need a lot of financial help, that’s for sure.”
The Cheadle Lions Club recently held their first-of-its-kind Feed a Steer competitions that raised over $60,000. While Wheatland County currently is not in possession of a hospice facility, such an establishment would allow for a life-affirming alternative to hospitalization. The facility would be of benefit to anyone suffering from cancer, diseases including advanced heart, respiratory, and kidney disease as well as ALS, MS, and Alzheimers.
Acknowledging the $500,000 the community raised for the Food Grain project, Warrack has no doubt the community will band together and raise the required funds.
While the project will require time, research, and money, the club was thrilled and proud that 4-H Club members are getting involved in supporting the project. Annie was auctioned off on June 4.