The second annual memorial walk in support of Vitas House Hospice brought together sponsors, families, and supporters in a growing show of national solidarity for terminally ill cancer patients.
Chairman of the Vitas House Hospice Lisa Haddad joined hundreds of well-wishing walkers at the Vitas House I Walk to Remember 5K at the Queens Park Savannah on Saturday morning.
She described the event as both a remembrance and a source of hope, noting that it was created to honour those lost to terminal cancer while supporting those currently in need of care.
The chairman says the facility is serving a special purpose.
“This was started based on remembrance of all the ones we’ve lost to terminal cancer. Vitas House Hospice is a hospice for terminally ill cancer patients. It is a free palliative care hospice to every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. And this walk, every dollar that comes out of this goes back into the actual running of the hospice.”
Vitas House Hospice provides free palliative care to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, offering 24-hour nursing and medical support for patients facing terminal cancer. Funds raised through the walk contribute directly to the operation of the facility.
Mrs Hadad said there was a significant increase in sponsorship and participation this year, reflecting growing public awareness of the importance of hospice care.
She also welcomed the sense of community fostered by the event.
“It’s just about being there for each other and building this community of people that have lost their loved ones. And this, what we’ve created here, is a space to breathe, a release for people that didn’t know where to put all that love that’s there. And they don’t know what to do with it anymore because they’ve lost their loved ones. And I think that’s what we’ve built here, and that’s the community that has been here.”
The annual walk continues to serve as both a fundraising effort and a platform for awareness, reinforcing the role of community support in sustaining essential healthcare services like Vitas House Hospice.