Hospice society helps people face death By JOELLE McKIERNAN AT SOME point, in some way, we must all face the end of our lives. Death is not a subject we discuss easily in our socie- ly. Yet. almost everyone shares the same hope. when when faced with a life-threatening disease - we all want to live until the end with dignity and comfort. We want to be free from pain and. we want family and friends around us, We don’t want to be a burden. In short, we want a good quality of life in the last stages of life for ourselves and the ones we love. Quality of life for the last stages of life is what hos- pice palliative is all about. For the past 25 years, hos- pice -palliative care: organizations- in’ Canada ‘have been physical, emotional and practical support to-people with - life threatening illness and their families. The wealth of experience, earned al the bedside of thousands of Cana- _dians, has taught us fundamental lessons about living. Above all, we have learned that when the needs of patients. and loved ones are sensitively met, the journey towards death — though not always difficult - can be a na experience thal gives meaning and completeness to ife But we also know that far too many Canadians still face advanced illness in pain, isolation and despair. Far too many families feel hopelessly unable to cope with - the caregiving needs of a loved one. Since’ 1992, the Terrace Hospice Society has been working towards meeting the needs of the terminally ill and bereaved in our community Las! year we helped support 45 families in the Terrace area and currently have 31 volunteers, including 11 board members. Our biggest struggle over the last eight years has been funding our services to the community. About 95 per cent of hospice’s funding comes from donations and fun- draising activities. Hospice is built on community and volunteer suppert. This year, to celebrate Hospice manth we planned a number of different events to allow the community to get involved and help support Hospice. Donation jars have been placed in several local busi- nesses and banks around town so the public can donate their loose change. If you would like more’ information on Hospice a display has been set up in the Terrace Public Library. Thank You Blue ribbon campaign a success ON BEHALF of Ksan House Society and the Terrace Women’s Re- source Centre, I am ex- pressing our gratitude for the support we received from the city of Terrace in our recent Blue Ribbon Campaign. The Blue Ribbon Cam- paign was in conjunction with the 6th Annual Pro- vincial Prevention of Vio- lence Against Women week April 23 - 29, and each ribbon was a repre- sentation of local statistics regarding violence against women. Needless to say, violence affects us all and happens everywhere, even here...in Terrace. If you or someone you know is living in an un- healthy and abusive rela- tionship and would like to talk about it in a safe place, call Ksan House Society at 635-2373 and ask to speak to a Counsel- lor. Irlanda Price, Coun- selling Programs Coordi- nator Ksan House Society Play was great I WOULD like to give a big thank-you to the cili- The BIG BIKE” is coming to Terrace May 27! Teams of up to 29 Riders © Collect pledges for vital Heart and Stroke research © Big Fun & Great Prizes! Call 638-8464 NOW to register your team! ep — ETI «| STANDARD