Published: Sept. 18, 2013
Hundreds are expected at the 2013 Hike/Bike for Hospice, to be held Sept. 22 at Granger Meadows Park in DeWitt to support the future of compassionate care at Sparrow Hospice.
This year's event features a 5K hike and 40 mile bike ride and is extra special as Sparrow celebrates 30 years of providing compassionate hospice care.
Participants will include the family of Ken Curtin, a Sparrow Hospice Patient who died in December 2012. His wife, Shari Curtin, called his time at Sparrow Hospice "a gift" and said their family is thankful for the compassionate care they received.
"Every person working there has a gift. They ministered to his needs so tenderly," said Shari. "It was a gift to us, his family, to see him at peace, talking, laughing with his many, many visitors up until the very end."
"The annual Hike/Bike for Hospice helps ensure the continued delivery of compassionate hospice care in mid-Michigan," said Michelle Wiseman, Director of Sparrow Hospice and Palliative Care Services. "It's really a heartening, and healing, event, and is a chance to honor and remember our loved ones who have completed life's journey."
The Hike/Bike event features hiking and biking trails, food, and kids' activities including a petting zoo, inflatable bounce house, face painting, animal balloons, and special appearances by Sparty, Big Lug and Zeke the Wonderdog! New this year for the younger crowd will be "touch a truck," which gives kids of all ages the opportunity to sit in a tractor, garbage truck and other large vehicles!
Online registration and more information, including event maps, can be found at SparrowFoundation.org/HikeBike4Hospice. Day of event registration is also available.