Albany Community Hospice hoping to raise $30,000 with Step Into Summer fundraiser

The Albany Community Hospice is hosting its inaugural Step Into Summer event to raise money for the community-funded palliative care centre.

Fundraising participants can choose to walk, run, ride, roll, or swim to achieve a target distance during the month of November.

The hospice hopes to raise $30,000 via its inaugural event, or $1000 for every day of November.

The Albany Community Hospice provides end-of-life palliative care in a home-like environment for the Great Southern community.

Community engagement co-ordinator Marisa Papalia said the idea started with a conversation about fundraising from going on a walk while on a break.

“It’s come up to summer. We should really start thinking about being more active and getting into shape,” she said.

“It’s good to have an excuse or something to motivate you to actually just be more active and get fitter for summer, because you tend to be outside doing more active things.”

The fundraiser is open to participants of all ages who can get involved by running, walking, hiking, swimming, rolling, or riding.

Ms Papalia said the hospice received feedback following its Spinathon in March that inspired it to branch out into hosting the Step Into Summer fundraiser.

“It’s just kind of a pretty low-key way of fundraising,” she said.

“We were sort of looking at a different angle to try and make it easier for people to get involved.

“It’s just another way of engaging with community — maybe a different and younger demographic as well.”

Registrations for the fundraiser are open at https://shorturl.at/YDXKb.