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Hospice holds major fundraiser Date published: 11/1/2009
BY BILL TOLBERT
More than 100 friends and supporters of Hospice of the Rapidan attended the organization's recent gala and helped raise more than $55,000. The annual fundraiser, held at the Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center on the Germanna Community College campus in Culpeper, supports compassionate and dignified end-of-life care in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties. The gala dinner and dance also honored three people from the area who have made a difference in their respective communities: John James of Orange Dr. Thomas E. Rey-nolds of Culpeper Dr. David Snyder of Rixeyville. The event was sponsored by 30 area businesses and community leaders, and 80 other businesses donated products or services that were offered at auction to raise money. "The generosity and support of the evening's sponsors, guests and volunteers was inspirational, especially in light of current economic challenges," said Kathy Clements, executive director of the hospice organization. "It says a lot about the spirit of the community we live in." Clements said the event was one of the largest in the 26-year history of the organization. "It will go a long way toward helping us continue to provide the best possible care to every patient without regard to their financial resources." Neil Mairs of Culpeper, the master of ceremonies for the event and a past hospice board member, noted that the organization is embarking on ambitious plans to build a hospice house to serve patients and families whose care needs exceed what can be reasonably met at home. There currently is no hospice house anywhere in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange or Rappahannock counties. Clements noted that the gala event provided an opportunity to reach out to community members to tell the story of what the organization does. "Having a loved one die is an experience that most of us will face, so this is a universal story of adversity being overcome by the love and support of the Hospice of the Rapidan professional team," Clements said. "We cannot erase the pain of losing a loved one, but But the team can't do that without the help of the community, Clements noted. "And the 2009 gala demonstrated to me once again that our community will support us with the gift of time and money." Hospice of the Rapidan serves about 350 patients annually and has a staff of 32 people, including full- and part-time workers. The agency also has more than 100 volunteers who donated nearly 3,000 hours last year with an estimated value of more than $61,000. The agency plans to build a 10-bedroom hospice house in Sumerduck on land that was donated by Robert and Betty Niles. Bill Tolbert: 540/374-5408
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