By Joanne Jordan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Guysborough Journal
SHERBROOKE: Members of the District of St. Mary’s Lions Club will host their annual walkathon, which benefits the St. Mary’s Hospital Society, on Saturday, Nov. 9.
“It began about 10 years ago,” Lions Treasurer Heather Laybolt, who also chairs the 12-member Hospital Society Board, told The Journal. She noted participants annually raise an average of $6,000.
Those monies help the St. Mary’s Hospital Society purchase a variety of items, including hospital beds, pressure mattresses and vein finders, along with special mats that alert staff if a vulnerable person gets out of bed.
Last year, the walkathon helped buy a portable ultrasound machine.
“They also pay for TV programming, so patients have something to watch, as well as the palliative care program,” she said.
Laybolt added, “Money raised by Lions is given to the hospital society, and the hospital facility manager can come to the society with a request when something is needed; this [walkathon] covers requests from our hospital.”
People interested in walking on Nov. 9 should gather at the United Church in Sherbrooke at 9:30 a.m. and are reminded to bring their pledge sheets and money. Lions will be on-site until 12:30 p.m. to collect them.
Anyone interested in making a pledge can contact Donnie Fraser at the Irving in Sherbrooke, or Laybolt at hklaybolt@hotmail.com or 902-522-2463.
If a tax receipt is requested, they will be mailed by the end of December.