Record Crowd Participates in Homeland’s 5K and Memory Walk
On a crisp, sunny October morning, a record crowd of more than 400 walkers and runners laced up their sneakers for the Homeland Hospice 11th Annual 5K and Memory Walk. This special Homeland tradition provides an opportunity for families to honor and celebrate a loved one they have lost surrounded by a community who understands the impact of grief. With every step taken, participants were welcomed with friendly smiles and words of encouragement. On this special day, no one walked alone.
Many runners and walkers wore blue event t-shirts with the names of loved ones remembered. Many participants walked in groups with their furry family members in tow wearing colorful bandanas provided by Homeland. Among the crowd adorned in the Welsh flag, Johanna Cook and her family proudly walked in honor of her father Bill Williams who passed away in 2020.
“My dad loved his Welsh heritage,” Johanna says. “We proudly wear our favorite Welsh gear in his honor.”
Johanna and her family have participated in Homeland’s 5K and Memory Walk since her father’s passing. This year’s walkers included Bill’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As the group crossed the finish line, they held one another’s hands and cheered, “We miss you Pop-Pop.”
“Homeland provided significant support for both of my parents,” Johanna adds. “We love participating in this event.”
For Kay Carmines, the walk was her first in honor of her late husband Jim, who was a competitive racewalker in his 50s and a walking coach for the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. Taking each step alongside her was friend and avid walker Carlyn Chulick. Carlyn is the past chair of Homeland’s Board of Trustees.
“Jim had a wonderful sense of humor,” Kay says. “Today is about sharing the good memories.”
While many attendees enjoyed a leisurely walk, others came to run. Bryce Hampton was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 15:33. He intended to race last year, but had to cancel at the last minute because of an injury. Bryce, an active runner, chose this race to honor the memory of his grandmother who died two years ago and received hospice services from an organization close to her home.
“I wanted to support this race for my grandmother,” Bryce says. “I am happy to run this year.”
A unique aspect of the event included activity stations to help families deal with their grief. At one station, participants could write personal messages to their loved ones on a special piece of paper which dissolved when placed in water. Another station featured a rainbow arch where families could write the name of their loved ones. All attendees were given Rosemary-scented lip balm. Rosemary is a symbol of love and remembrance and has been used for thousands of years for aromatherapy.
Over $80,000 was raised in support of Homeland Hospice’s supportive services like massage, music therapy and additional in-home relief hours as well as residents of Homeland Center whose financial resources have been exhausted. Homeland Hospice is a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania.
For more information about Homeland Hospice, call (717) 221-7890.
