Her big sister couldn’t make it this year, so Myrtle Jouffret walked in her honour.

Last May, Leah Hamer took part in the annual VON Oxford Hike for Hospice at age 91, by walking around the parking lot at her Chieftain apartment residences.

Hamer, who was also known as Candy Floss the hospital care clown, died of cancer earlier this year.

"I’m walking in memory of Leah," Jouffret said. "She claimed me as her little sister. She was my big sister."

The two met while volunteering for the Canadian Cancer Society and became fast friends. Eventually the two lived on the same floor in their apartment building.

Last year, Jouffret said she sponsored Hamer in the hike that raises money for the residential hospice.

When Hamer became ill with cancer, Jouffret said the idea to do the hike in her honour flashed through her mind and later informed Hamer of her decision.

Some had hoped Hamer would have been able to use the Sakura House residential hospice before she died.

Jouffret and her team consisting of Louella Barath and granddaughters Laura and Kathleen Barath, raised $8,520.

They were four of 162 participants that raised over $56,000 to date.
Grace Breen, executive director of the VON/Oxford, said when the Hike for Hospice began six years ago, only 20 people showed up at the event.

"The number of people supporting the project is very exciting," Breen said.
Participants walked in two-, five, 7.5- and 12-kilometre tracks, at area parks and on the future residential hospice grounds.

Leslie Farrell and her family took part in the hike in memory of her sister-in-law Verna Farrell, who died of cancer two years ago. At age 46, she left behind a 14-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son.

Verna Farrell died in hospital and while she said the care was excellent, a hospice would have been a suitable place to spend her last days.

"When she was passing, it was a very emotional time for us," Leslie Farrell said. "To have a comfortable place for us to grieve would have made the experience more peaceful. It would have been more family-based and private, and there would have been counsellors available."