Image Credit: Silvia Senna / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

NEW BEDS FOR KAMLOOPS HOSPICE

New specialized beds in place at Kamloops Hospice after record fundraising through Cassie’s Charity Drive

Apr 18, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — A large part of what the Kamloops Hospice Society does it provide comfort to those who may be approaching the end of life — and thanks to donations collected through a local family’s Christmas fundraiser, the facility was recently able to buy 12 new expandable ‘cuddle’ beds for patients.

Cassie’s Charity Drive, led by the McNutt family, raised a little more than $123,000 this year, and the effort has paid off in a meaningful way.

After a busy winter season of fundraising, this spring Cassie McNutt paid a visit to the Kamloops Hospice to see what her and her family’s donation campaign bought.

“Our goal this year was $80,000 and we got over $123,000 in total this year,” McNutt told CFJC Thursday (April 18). “It was just a shock, that’s the only way I can describe it. It was really a shock to see.”

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The fifth annual charity drive had its sights set on being able to buy specialized beds for the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home.

“We were able to purchase 12 new cuddle beds,” says Kamloops Hospice Society Executive Director Erin Gardner, “which we wouldn’t have been able to do. Cassie’s Charity Drive over the last few years basically funded about 90 per cent of the new cuddle beds.”

The beds are designed to expand, allowing people to lay down with a loved one, or to simply give extra bed space.

“We did have a gentleman who was quite tall and had been in a hospital bed for quite some time, and so he was able to be much more comfortable once he was here and we were able to extend the bed for him,” adds Gardner.

For the facility, it’s an important way to increase comfort to people in their care. And for McNutt, it’s an example of why the effort put into their drive-by holiday light display, 50/50 raffle, and donation collection matters.

“A lot of people don’t know what hospice is, until you need to know what hospice is. That was kind of the start, and it’s kind of my motto,” she explains. “Telling people about not only raising funds for hospice, but (raising) awareness that we have this place in Kamloops and the work that they do is amazing.”

With fundraising results already being put to use at Kamloops Hospice, McNutt says that the family has already begun planning for 2024’s campaign.

“Every contribution everyone puts in, no matter how big or how small, it all has an impact at the end of the day,” adds McNutt.