Martinrea team bring home the title

Martinrea Metallic Canada Inc. employees teamed together for a good cause and were rewarded for their efforts.

The Martinrea’s Marchers For Miracles won the 2024 Corporate Team Challenge title at Chatham’s eighth annual Hike For Hospice earlier this month.

What started as Lynne Annis collecting pledges to participate individually led to more than a dozen employees taking part as the Martinrea’s Marchers For Miracles team.

“Initially, I was talking about doing the Hike for Hospice to a coworker, but within minutes, it turned into a team of four and a name for our team and grew to a team of 10,” said Lynne Annis, team captain.

“We had amazing support from everyone from the Ridgetown plant, corporate office, our families and friends,” said Annis, adding that a shout-out goes to Chad Oulds for coming up with the team name.”

Annis said the team’s goal was to raise $6,000, but a week before the event, that target seemed to be in jeopardy, as the total was $4,094 on April 30.

“The team did a final push over the last five days to push us past our goal,” she said.

The Martinrea’s Marchers For Miracles raised $7,814.64, the highest total for all corporate teams.

Team members received a meal from Cora’s Restaurant.

Martinrea’s contribution was part of a record $167,500 raised in the eighth annual Hike for Hospice at Mud Creek on Sunday, May 5.

Some participants chose to walk the path in the seven days before the Hike date.

Participants raised money through pledges or donated to walk the 3K path in south Chatham near John McGregor Secondary School.

Memorial signs lined the trail as many participants walked in memory of loved ones.

“It was so touching to see so many people walking together on the trail, and all the memorial signs are just a reminder of the impact Hospice has made in our community,” said Ginny Hawken, Hike for Hospice Event Co-Chair.

Funds will assist Hospice’s expenses in providing end-of-life care, including residential hospice care, care coordination and grief and bereavement support to local families, at no cost.

Since opening in April 2016, over 1,350 residents and their families have called the Hospice home, while grief and bereavement have provided support to over 1,730 individuals.

Chatham-Kent Hospice management was not surprised that the Corporate Challenge winning team came from Ridgetown.

“The Ridgetown community has been a strong supporter of Chatham-Kent Hospice from the start,” said Jody Maroney, Executive Director of the Chatham-Kent Hospice. “Charlie Mitton, from Mitton’s Jewellers, was on our Capital Campaign team to help raise the funds needed to build the Hospice. He helped us get the word out in Ridgetown about the services Chatham-Kent Hospice would offer and the impact the Hospice would make on local families.”

Maroney said Mitton continues to be a strong supporter as a sponsor of the annual Benefit Gala as the jeweller donated a .75 (3/4) carat Brilliant Cut Canadian Diamond, valued at $3,300, to the 2023 event. Maroney said another example of the community coming together was the inaugural Hot Rods for Hospice Fall Harvest Fest last September, which raised over $32,000 for the Hospice.

“We are very grateful to the Martinrea and their Hike for Hospice team for their amazing support,” Maroney said. “And we’re thankful to the Ridgetown community for continually coming together to support hospice end-of-life care in our community.”

The Hike For Hospice has raised over $950,000 in its eight years, including three years from 2020-22, when the event was held virtually because of the pandemic.

The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation is responsible for fundraising activities. Hospice requires $144,500 in donations monthly to support its operating needs. The 10-bed residential facility offers care for residents facing the end of life and support for their loved ones at no cost to the residents or their families. The hospice provides comfort, support, and specialized pain and symptom management in a home-like setting. Dedicated physicians, nurses, personal support workers, and volunteers provide around-the-clock care.

Plans are already underway for the ninth Hike For Hospice next May.

And the Martinrea’s Marchers For Miracles are already up for the challenge.

“We look forward to the Hike in 2025, and we’re up to the Corporate Challenge of having a repeat win,” Annis said.

Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News