With a goal to raise $15,000 for a new palliative-care bed for the Stettler Hospital and Care Centre, Nancy Bauman far exceeded her goal.
Last week, she completed Nancy’s Ride on a 202-kilometre bicycle ride that ended in Longview.
“Together, we raised over $21,000 for a palliative care bed through Nancy’s Ride,” said Bauman, who completed her trek from Fernie, B.C., to Longview, Alta., on June 15 and 16.
“We managed to complete the trip in two days.”
She was far from her goal, with just about $5,000 collected, when a Stettler Independent story on June 6 gave the campaign a big boost in funding and support.
“A lot of people said there is definitely a need for this type of bed in the hospital and they wished they had it when their loved ones were in hospital,” Bauman said.
“They thought it was a great idea, especially since the funding stayed in the community.”
The Erskine mother initiated the project to buy a bed for terminally ill patients, and in memory of her father Vern Raho, who died of cancer last year at 72.
Nancy’s Ride was launched in mid-May under the Stettler Health Services Foundation, which continues to welcome donations.
Accompanied by friends and family on the journey, she was welcomed at the finish line by about 10 people, who celebrated her goals in the trip and fundraising.
“It was overwhelming,” Bauman said. “I was pretty excited.”
On the first day, she travelled 93 kilometres, and logged 109 kilometres of the final day.