Stratford residents will lace up their shoes this month to support local end-of-life care during the 12th annual Hike for Hospice on Saturday, June 14, 2026. The event helps keep eight palliative care beds open at Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth, which relies on community donations for more than half of its budget.
The hike starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Stratford Perth Museum and wraps up with a barbecue lunch, music, and games at noon. Those who cannot make it can still take part by choosing to hike on their own anytime from June 7 to 14.
Each room at the hospice costs $350 a day to operate. Provincial funding covers only 47 percent of the facility’s expenses, leaving the rest to be raised through events like this one. The annual fundraising target is approximately $950,000.
Bill Whittemore is this year’s honourary chair. His wife, Lynn, worked as the hospice’s bookkeeper and died there about 13 months ago. Whittemore now walks with a hospice group called Steps for Support.
Last year’s hike collected more than $130,000. Organizers hope to build on that success as the event remains the hospice’s biggest yearly fundraiser.
