Hockey for Hospice takes strides to help those in need

The Hockey for Hospice tournament is taking place from Dec. 27 to 29, 2022.

According to the Hockey for Hospice website, more than 2,000 hockey players between the ages of four and 14 participate.

This will be the 26th annual tournament.

Each year, hockey players pay a $200 registration fee and collect pledges in order to play in the tournament.

The tournament to date has collected $4,178,410 for the local Windsor-Essex hospice.

Hospice is a charity which supports the community by offering palliative care to cancer patients on their deathbed, as well as mental health support for their families. They operate two residences, one located in Windsor and one in Leamington.

Each Hospice residence operates 10 suites, for a total of 20 palliative care beds in Windsor-Essex County.

The suites have a bed, fridge, fireplace, washroom and patio, according to the Hospice of Windsor website.

Hospice has 400 patients a year in hospice care at the residences as well as up to 1200 at home throughout the year, according to Katharen Bortolin, Director of community engagement and advancement

“We are only 50 per cent government funded, which means we need the help of the community in our six main events, such as Hockey for Hospice, to keep up with our operation,” said Bortolin.

Bortolin also said $2.1 million is required to help patients in need.

Former Director of Patient and Family Services Joe Perry, who worked for Hospice until 2020, elaborated on how expensive running a hospice facility can be, and how an event like the Hockey for Hospice tournament can help.

“Just a hospital bed can cost an excess of $5,000. These are specialized beds with specialized mattresses. That are made for keeping people comfortable at end of life,” Perry said.

According to Perry, these funds can also help cover the cost of transportation of patients to medical appointments they cannot attend on their own, as well as costs of staff, social workers and volunteer training.