Vernon Hospice Raises $14K with Derby Garden Party

Eighty-five people gathered at The Edge Restaurant overlooking British Columbia's Okanagan Valley this spring wearing spectacular hats and their finest Derby attire. They came to celebrate something deeply meaningful: 25 years of the North Okanagan Hospice House providing comfort and dignity to families during life's hardest moments.

The Kentucky Derby Garden Party fundraiser brought style and joy to a serious mission. Guests sipped champagne, enjoyed elegant canapés on silver trays, and competed for prizes like Best Hat, Dapper at the Derby, and Showstopper.

The real entertainment came from an unexpected source: pool noodle horses. "Jockeys" from StrongHER Kickboxing and Self Defense raced creatively crafted pool noodles with names like Tickled Pink, Blue Suede Hooves, and Mint Condition Money Maker while the crowd cheered enthusiastically.

Beyond the fun, the afternoon featured yard games, a putting green, photo booth, and a Bloom Bar where guests could arrange flowers. One lucky winner took home $722.50 from the popular 50/50 draw.

Local businesses embraced the celebration by decorating 12 beautiful easels that added color and whimsy throughout the venue. Secret Garden Daycare, Okanagan Science Centre, Royal LePage, and nine other organizations showcased their creativity in the friendly competition.

Royal Bank of Canada's Vernon team made a particularly strong showing, sending five volunteers dressed to the nines and contributing a $1,500 donation on site. Every guest left with garden clippers from T&B Naturals and a handcrafted mini flower-cone magnet made by hospice volunteers.

The Ripple Effect

Hospice House opened its doors on March 12, 2001, but the North Okanagan Hospice Society had already been serving the community for 17 years before that. For a quarter century now, the six-bed facility has provided free end-of-life care to thousands of families who needed support, dignity, and compassion during their most vulnerable moments.

The Derby fundraiser represents something bigger than one afternoon's donations. It shows a community that deeply values the safety net Hospice House provides, knowing that when families face the unthinkable, there's a place filled with caring people ready to help.

This milestone celebration reminded everyone that caring for people at the end of life is just as important as celebrating life's beginnings.