| The Hospice Care Light Up A Life campaign runs from November 19th to January 3rd, 2009. This year, the Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer Hospice Care "Light Up A Life" Tree is located in Calhoun County at the J&B Drug Store on Main Street, Grantsville. The tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th at 1 p.m. The community is welcome to attend.
Submitted by Julie Beckner
While festive for most people, the holiday season can be stressful for one particular group - those with a serious illness. Many families in our community will be facing the possibility that this is their last holiday with a loved one. Hospice Care's goal this season is to ensure that a financial worry over health care doesn't take away from this precious time.
The "Light Up A Life" campaign, held annually during the holidays, raises funds to provide care to patients regardless of their ability to pay for it. While many patients are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, there are many families that cannot afford their co-payments, or fall through the cracks altogether when it comes to medical care coverage.
Ron Hicks, Chief Operating Officer for Hospice Care, explains, "In a rural state like ours, there are many people who have spent their lives as farmers, housewives, or independent business people, and either don't qualify for, or have never had, benefits. Yet, we know they deserve to have the best care that is available regardless of their financial situation. Fundraisers like the "Light Up A Life" campaign enable us to provide that care to those patients, and peace of mind to their families."
The campaign works by participants making monetary donations in memory, or in honor of a loved one, at one of three levels: illuminate a light on the tree, hang a glass heart ornament, or new this year - hang a 25th Anniversary Jeweled Ornament in honor of Hospice Care's years of service. The loved one's name, or a patient's own name, is placed on the tree beside a light or chosen ornament and recorded in the memorial book for visitors to see. People who sponsor an ornament can hang them personally at a tree-lighting ceremony and can pick them up at the end of the campaign to have as a keepsake.
To obtain a light, ornament, or to receive more information on Hospice Care services, please call your local office in Burnsville at 304-853-2279 or 1-800-350-1161.
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