The Huron Shores Hospice Committee is moving forward with plans for a one bed hospice expected to be located at Tiverton Park Manor.
A residential hospice provides a home-like setting where adults and children with life-limiting illnesses receive end-of-life care.
Spokesperson Cheryl Cottrill says they have applied for funding from the Local Health Integration Network, but don't expect any for the one bed.
She says they hope to raise over $300,000 for the project, and already have over $30,000 in pledges.
The fundraising would cover set up costs and two years of operating costs.
Currently the only hospice service the region is located in Owen Sound, a substantial and sometimes insurmountable distance for families who need end-of-life care.
Cottrill adds they have also applied for support for a three bed stand alone facility, and do hope to get funding for that. But she says they feel it's important to at least get one bed up and running.
"We have a verbal agreement with the Tiverton Park Manor in Tiverton as our location partner," she says. "We'll need to year of operating costs, and then some money for furnishings, and decorating."
She says some families really need the support, "Families, right now, that are struggling with end of life care for a loved one. So, it's not enough to satisfy all of the needs in the community by any stretch, but it would help kind of build that expertise and awareness, and hopefully take some of that pressure off for families."
In the future, they'd like to create a stand alone facility that brings all palliative care services in Kincardine under one roof.
The Honourary Chair of the "Hearts for Hospice" Campaign, former Bruce Power President Duncan Hawthorne, pledged 20,000. when he came out to a meeting about the hospice this week.
About 100 people attended, and pledged another $3,000. Linda Bowers pledged $2,500.
Cottrill says planning started 4 years ago, as they went to meetings and visited hospice facilities all over the province. Last year they received $6,000. from the PWU Equity and Diversement Trust fund to incorporate, apply for charitable status, and begin planning in earnest.