Walk to Remember benefits local hospice patients

Bob Phillips-Plona and his family pauses for a photo at last year's Walk to Remember. Pictured (from left) are Tony Phillips-Plona, Bob with grandson Brandan, and Tom Phillips-Plona.  

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West Shore residents, churches and community groups will have an opportunity to support local hospice patients and their families by participating in Hospice of the Western Reserve's 2015 "Walk to Remember." The event takes place Sunday, June 7, 7:30 a.m. to noon, at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.; the walk begins at 9 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults, $10 for children and $60 for families and includes full-day admission to the Zoo and Rainforest, T-shirts, live musical entertainment from InCahootz, make-and-take crafts, face painting, healthy snacks and beverages and more. Registration is available online at hospicewr.org/walk, or by calling 216-383-3715.

More than 3,000 participants are expected to walk to honor the memory of their loved ones while raising funds for charity care and for services not covered by Medicare and private insurance. These include pediatric palliative care, the fulfillment of special wishes for hospice patients, art and music therapy, crisis response services in Northeast Ohio schools and community grief support groups.

“It’s a wonderful, uplifting event that often attracts multiple generations within a family,” said Westlake resident Bob Phillips-Plona, director of residential services for Hospice of the Western Reserve’s two hospice care centers: Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake and David Simpson Hospice House on Cleveland’s east side. “Last year, many teams even created custom T-shirts with pictures and names of their loved ones on the front. The event is open to anyone wishing to honor and celebrate the memory of a loved one; no connection to hospice is required.”

Among those participating for the fourth year are the Burning River Roller Girls, Cleveland’s first all-female, skater-owned, flat-track derby league, who will help kick off the Walk and add to the celebratory mood of the day. “We have such a great time and are honored to be a part of something so special,” said Daniela Reagan, vice president of public relations for the group. “I am happy to help because hospice took such great care of several of my family members.”