The Foundation Au Diapson, who supports la Maison au Diapson, an organization that offers free specialized palliative care and psychological and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families in the Brome-Missisquoi and the Haute-Yamaska regions, has launched its 13th edi-tion of its La Marche/La Course fundraiser with a new theme: I’m moving to the rhythm of Diapa-son. The fundraiser will take place May 1, with the Parent-Massé family serving as ambassadors, and it is the most important event of the year for the foundation as it allows la Maison to continue to offer its services to the community. For the first time in two years, it is getting back to its regular format.
“Year after year, we have been able to count on a significant amount raised for our activities. It has had a direct impact because of the financial support it offers us,” said Charlotte Evans, executive director of the Foundation, la Maison, and L’Équipe d’accompagnement, during a press confer-ence on Feb. 9.
Evans explained that la Maison is partially subsidized by the provincial government, but it does not fully cover its operating costs. “There’s always a difference in what we are subsidized and what we need to cover our costs. The fundraising is essential to us to pursue our care services. We have 24-hour nursing care, the cooking and the meals, we clean the house, and there are a ton of volunteers present with us.”
La Marche/La Course encourages people to get moving for the cause. “Contrary to the past two years, the event will be in person. There will be a meeting point at the Bromont arena and there will be three choices of trails, 3 km, 6 km, or 10 km, so participants can choose which distance they would like to walk or run that day. There will be buses bringing people back to the starting point,” said Evans.
She also noted that people can participate in teams or individually. “We invite people to create a team of 10 and that team sets an objective of $2,000 for the event. An individual can register with a personal objective of $200.”
This year, the foundation is hoping to raise $250,000 and has already provided care to more than 1,500 people since 2010.
“I’m moving to the rhythm of Diapason,” this year’s theme for the event, was all about aligning the fundraiser with what takes place on a daily basis at la Maison.
“We really wanted to mobilize and encourage the community to participate and to find a theme that will help reflect our values of following the rhythm of the patient and what the patients and families are living,” mentioned Evans. “We want to make sure we are connecting what we are doing with our events and what we are living with at la Maison.”
Besides the financial aspect, the fundraiser is all about bringing people together. “What we also re-ally love about this activity is how unifying and how important it is for the families and loved ones that have come through our doors to come back and see familiars faces and share their stories,” emphasized Evans. “There’s a component of being back together and honoring their loved one’s memory and being present in this moment.”
To participate in the 13th edition of La Marche/La Course, registration can be made at https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/audiapason/campaign/lamarchelacourse/?OrgName=audiapason
All sanitary measures set in place at the time of the event will be followed.
