Charlotte Varcoe
IN Home Hospice Care will be the highlight of a charity ball next year.
Key2Sale Mount Gambier will once again host a fundraising event, this time contributing to the ongoing costs of the In Home Hospice Care volunteer program.
Last year staff members hosted the Key 2 Kindness Charity Ball which raised more than $33,000 for Mount Gambier’s Palliative Care Initiative.
Key2Sale principal Gail Richards said the next charity ball, scheduled for 2024, would support the local hospice program.
“Our first charity ball was very well received and it took us three goes over the Covid-19 pandemic to host it but certainly it was very well received and we raised an amazing amount of funds,” Ms Richards said.
“We thought it worked so well last time we would do another ball and get the community back together, this time raising funds for In Home Hospice Care.”
She said the charity call was a great opportunity for people to come together and build awareness around what In Home Hospice Care was doing.
“A lot of people are not aware of the service until they are in a position with either themselves or a loved one that needs extra love and support,” Ms Richards said.
“There are ways to stay at home longer when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness.”
She said the volunteer service assisted families to allow that to happen which she labelled as “fabulous”.
“This helps people stay at home where they feel more comfortable but it also takes pressure off our hospital and other medical services as well,” Ms Richards said.
She said the first charity ball was about giving back to the Mount Gambier and District Hospital after her grandmother passed away.
“That has built my awareness around services and what we are lacking in the community but also the ones that are doing amazing work,” Ms Richards said.
“It is nice to support them because without those services there would be less support for not only the patient but also their families.”
She said she hoped the community would get onboard with the fundraiser with In Home Hospice Care relying heavily on donations and grants to keep its program running.
“The more we can raise means the more this service can continue in the community which we would love to see because they have got really good feedback over the years,” she said.
“We want to see this continue to run and support people in the community.”
In Home Hospice Care chairperson Maureen Klintberg said the board was excited for the fundraiser.
“The ongoing support of Key2Sale is highly valued and much appreciated as the financial contribution from these events will increase the availability of In Home Hospice Care to continue to provide their free of charge, volunteer driven in home service” Ms Klintberg said.
“Currently in South Australia there are several projects focusing on awareness and availability of palliative care services including the Compassionate Communities Conversation series to which the Mount Gambier community has been invited to participate.
“Aligning with the Compassionate Community approach, Key2Sale has recognised the valuable role of business working in partnership with the community organisations to support their community to care for one another during the end of life journey.”
Ms Klintberg said these “charitable activities” not only add financial support but also help build awareness of local community services who contribute to the “wellbeing of members” of the community.
She said fundraising also encouraged citizens to engage and “become better informed” about death, dying and care available within the community.
Alongside the charity ball, a Christmas tree fundraiser for In Home Hospice Care will also be hosted by Key2Sale with orders now open.
