Iowa City Hospice walk set for April 22

IOWA CITY-According to Iowa City Hospice's (ICH) recently released 2011 Annual Report, the number of patients served by the organization increased 27 percent in 2011, caring for, on average, 110 patients daily. The number of patients cared for per day has tripled over the past decade from an average of 36 patients in 2001. This growth, in light of anticipated decreases in Medicare reimbursement, brings home the importance of ICH's April 22 Walk for Dignity annual fundraiser. “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating life, honoring the memory of loved ones and generating financial support for patient care and bereavement services,” says Maggie Elliott, ICH executive director.

The family event, held at Willow Creek Park in Iowa City, kicks off at 11:00 with donation drop-offs followed by children's activities at noon. The walk begins at 1:00 p.m. and participants can choose the more challenging three-mile course or the less hilly one-mile course. “We know that everyone who is walking with us has been impacted in some way by hospice care, whether in our seven-county service area or another community,” says Elliott.

Join the Walk

You can walk as an individual or form your own team. Many people form Walk Teams to honor the memory of a loved one, co-worker or friend. When you register your team online at iowacityhospice.org, you can set up your own online fundraising page with a personal message. Your friends, family and coworkers will be able to make secure donations online.

“One hundred percent of donations support Iowa City Hospice,” says Elliott. “This ensures that anyone with a terminal illness has access to quality end-of-life care regardless of ability to pay.” For more information, visit iowacityhospice.org or call 319-688-4213 or 800-897-3052.

Iowa City Hospice serves the seven-county area of Johnson, Linn, Cedar, Iowa, Louisa, Muscatine and Washington. Founded in 1983, Iowa City Hospice is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing patient care and grief support to anyone affected by terminal illness regardless of an individual's ability to pay.