KELSEYVILLE — Lake County Watershed Protection District owns approximately 3,200 acres of property, known as the Highland Springs Recreation Area (HSRA), according to the Lake County government website. Hike for Hospice will hold its sixth annual fundraising event on June 12 on the HSRA trails.
HSRA was once a health retreat during the 19th century with natural springs that could accommodate 200 people in the (now-destroyed) hotel. HSRA is currently used by nature lovers and equestrians, also hiking, horseback and carriage riding, mountain biking on undeveloped single-track trails and fire roads; disc golfing, paddling, fishing, hunting, picnicking and swimming.
According to Janine Smith-Citron, director of development for Hospice, the fund/friend raising event generates money in support of Wings of Hope grief counseling for youth and special needs of Hospice patients. “We offer three Wings of Hope Family Bereavement Camps each year, two one day and one three day camps. These retreats/camps are open to Lake County residents and their children who have lost a loved one. Children have to be at least 5 years of age. All participants will be pre-screened prior to attendance.”
Hospice care provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible. In 2004, the number of Americans who received hospice services topped one million for the first time and, in 2005, the number of hospice providers in the US exceeded 4000.
Hospice Services of Lake County, a non profit organization, is now led by Executive Director Cindy Sobel, RN. Hospice has been providing compassionate comfort care to Lake County residents for over 41 years, first starting as a volunteer organization and then becoming Medicare & Medi-Cal certified in 1983. They provide care to over 325 patients annually. Patients, families and caregivers are provided service where ever they call home including private residences, assisted living, and skilled care facilities.
According to Smith-Citron, “Hike for Hospice is a free event. People are encouraged to hike alone, with friends, or on a team. Any one donating $25 or more receives a commemorative T-shirt. Hikers are encouraged to get donations from others in support of their participation. There is friendly competition among teams and individuals for best costumes and most money raised. Sutter Lakeside Hospital staff, Tina Scott’s family and Hospice Services volunteers and staff are top contenders.”
“We hope to raise $20,000 from sponsorships and hiker donations. We have $13,500 in sponsorships from local businesses and organizations,” added Smith-Citron.
When asked about the hike, District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott said, “The Hike for Hospice is one of The Scott’s Family’s favorite events. We love coming up with a group costume and coming out to support our local Hospice Center while getting fresh air and exercise. This year we are going to be ‘The Hungry Little Caterpillar.’ The kids and I will be fruit and Dad will be the caterpillar. In the past we were donuts and the donut makers. We’re going to hike the two-mile trail.”
Kim Riley, a member of the Highland Springs Trail Volunteers (now known as Highland Springs Naturalists), maintained trails in the area from 2000-2015. “We recovered old trails, old fire breaks and old jeeps trails and then opened them up and maintained them. At first there were only about eight miles of trails and when finished we had 30 miles.”
Hike for Hospice will use roughly five to eight miles of that trail system for their event, Riley said. “A couple of days before the event, I hike the trails and put up the signs and then after the event I’ll take them down.” When asked if she was going to participate in the event, she laughed, saying that at almost 63-years-old, she was going to get enough exercise just dealing with the signs.
Registration time is 8 to 9 a.m. Hikers can chose trails between one, two or three and four and a half miles long. Hikes range from very gentle to a bit more challenging. Registration begins at 8 a.m., The four and a half mile hike begins at 8:30, three mile begins at 8:45 and the one and two mile hike begin at 9 a.m. HSRA is located at 3600 E Highland Springs Rd, Lakeport, CA 95453-9639.
Smith-Citron says that hikers can bring their contributions with them or sign up and donate through the website. www.lakecountyhospice.org.
