Palliative volunteers pitch in for a ‘Hudson’ room

When the first Vaudreuil-Soulanges $3.5 million palliative care centre opens in Hudson sometime next year, patients may be placed in the Vaudreuil-Dorion bedroom, while their family members can visit a living room, or hallway donated by, and bearing the name of other MRC towns.

Next weekend volunteers in Hudson hope to raise enough money to sponsor a room when they host The Hudson Palliative Care “Room” Fundraiser.

Sponsoring a bedroom in the 12-bed facility starts at $50,000, the amount given to the foundation in January by the town of Vaudreuil-Dorion, while larger rooms in the future home such as a living room can start at $200,000.

Healthcare foundation president Sylvie Crevier said the Hudson event is one of the first official initiatives to be organized by people outside of their volunteer group.

“There comes a time when (we) board members are short of breath for doing everything,” she said, adding that she is heartened to see communities from the region pitching in to raise needed funds.

The home will be for everyone, Crevier added, so it’s nice that it is being funded through various efforts.

Hudson resident Susan Gaudette, who is helping organize next week’s gala, thinks each MRC town will eventually sponsor a room.

Meanwhile other groups from the region are helping the foundation with its overall bottom line.

The Optimists Club in Les Cèdres will host an event soon, while last year the La Troupe de Théâtre Bellevue, in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, donated close to $2,000 to the foundation from tickets that were sold to one of their shows.

To date, the foundation has raised $1.7 million in services, goods and money, said Crevier.

They must have $2 million, however, before construction can start, which Crevier thinks will be sometime next fall.

“We are still planning to open next year,” she confirmed.

All labour for the home, which will sit on a 97 thousand square foot lot that was donated by a Hudson family, is also being offered free-of-charge by FTQ-Construction.

The palliative care centre will offer bilingual respite to terminal patients and their families.

Planning and fundraising for the home has been ongoing for the past three years.

Final approval for the facility was granted last December by provincial healthcare officials.

The Hudson Palliative Care “Room” Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Whitlock Golf and Country Club, 128 Côte St. Charles, Hudson.

For information, or to purchase tickets call: 450 458-6699