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Beth Donovan Hospice Teams Up with Kemptville 73’s for the 2024/25 Season to Drive Awareness and “Unlock the Beds” for Palliative Care in North Grenville

North Grenville, Ontario—September 16, 2024

Beth Donovan Hospice (BDH) is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Kemptville 73’s Jr A hockey team for the 2024/25 season as part of its “Unlock the Beds” campaign. With the 73’s long-standing leadership in the community and their dedicated fan base, this partnership brings together the excitement of local hockey and the critical mission to bring palliative care beds closer to home. The 73’s deep roots in North Grenville make them the perfect partner to help raise awareness, because hockey and heart go hand in hand!

This collaboration is part of a larger campaign, supported by the Canadian Cancer Society. Together, we are addressing the shortage of hospice beds in North Grenville  where it’s needed most—right in our own community.

Currently, families in North Grenville must travel more than 55 kilometers to access hospice care, a burden that places unnecessary strain on patients and loved ones during an already challenging time. Through the “Unlock the Beds” campaign, BDH is urging residents to act by signing a petition at cancer.ca/hospice, which is automatically sent to our local MPP Stephen Clark.  

“We are thrilled to be leading this important campaign,” said Sue Walker of Beth Donovan Hospice. “Everyone deserves the right to spend their final days surrounded by loved ones not far from home. ‘Unlock the Beds’ is about ensuring North Grenville families can receive the care they need, where they need it most.”

The Canadian Cancer Society’s Bring Care Closer campaign highlights the fact that Ontario currently only has 3.47 hospice beds per 100,000 people, well below the recommended 7 beds per 100,000.

The “Unlock the Beds” campaign is aimed at closing this gap for North Grenville, ensuring the community has the facilities to support palliative care needs.

To help raise awareness Beth Donovan Hospice has partnered with the Kemptville 73’s Jr A hockey team. During home games, BDH will host a booth at the Kemptville arena, providing fans and attendees with the opportunity to sign up for the petition, and get involved in securing these essential hospice beds for the community, helping us take a huge step toward making hospice beds a reality for North Grenville.

“We’re excited to partner with the Kemptville 73’s to get the word out,” said Sue Walker. “Hockey brings the community together, and we hope the energy of the games can drive even more awareness for this critical cause.”

Beth Donovan Hospice committed to making sure that North Grenville and surrounding communities has the resources it needs to provide quality palliative care for everyone, close to home.

Beth Donovan Hospice is happy to announce that they have raised $30,000 through their 30 for 30 campaign. In honour of the hospice’s 30^th Anniversary, donations were collected through the sale of paper butterflies, craft and bake sales, third-party fundraising events, as well as through private donations. We must thank the many businesses, community partners, and private donors who helped us reached our goal. Many thanks to B&H Grocer who was our top retail fundraiser.

All funds raised will go directly to the continued operation of our many services including In-Home visiting, Equipment Lending, Day Hospice, and the Grief and Bereavement programs.

Beth Donovan Hospice serves individuals and their families as they navigate the challenges of life-limiting illnesses and end-of-life transitions. Founded through the compassion and vision of generous volunteers, Beth Donovan Hospice has been providing services for over 30 years. We serve the communities of North Grenville, Merrickville-Wolford, Spencerville, North Gower and beyond. All members of the community who have any life-limiting illness or are recently bereaved can access our services free of charge.

Ongoing fundraising is necessary for Beth Donovan Hospice to continue providing compassionate support and professional care to those in our community at end-of-life, their caregivers and the bereaved. For more information on how you can help, please visit our website at bethdonovanhospice.ca or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For those of you wanting to know a little more about the upcoming BJ Miller event, check out his TED talk and see what all of the fuss is about. 

BDH Butterfly Fundraiser a Big Hit