Collinwood residents invited to participate in Sept. 9 Zoo Walk

Residents of the Collinwood community are invited to participate in Hospice of the Western Reserve's first annual Walk to Remember at Cleveland MetroParks Zoo on Sunday, Sept. 9, 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Sponsored by FirstMerit Bank, Advance registration is required at www.hospicewr.org/walk.    

Walkers need not have a family member in hospice care to participate. Each walker is asked to raise a minimum of $25 from sponsors payable the day of the walk. (Simply ask 5 friends to each contribute $5.) Registration includes all-day admission to the Zoo and the Rainforest, a complimentary pancake breakfast, entertainment, prizes, goody bags and more.

"We will be walking to honor the memory of our loved ones while supporting the special services we offer that are not fully funded by Medicare or insurance, such as pediatric care, crisis intervention and bereavement counseling in schools, the granting of wishes for seriously ill patients and providing music, art and massage therapy to our patients and their caregivers," said Shawna Hofstetter, walk coordinator.  The agency’s headquarters is located at 17876 St. Clair and it also owns and operates David Simpson Hospice House, a residential hospice care facility, on Cleveland's lakefront at E. 185th Street.

Participants are encouraged to bring photos or mementoes (non-returnable only) to post on a special memorial tribute board. Raffle tickets are also available online and the day of the walk for $10 each for a chance to win a sporty 1937 Jaguar Replicar donated by a former patient’s family. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Zoo.

"We're really pulling out all the stops to make this a fun-filled and memorable day for everyone," Hofstetter said. "In addition to the 2-mile walk, we're planning lots of special activities for families, including a make-and-take Home Depot crafts area for kids, live musical entertainment, face painting, the St. Ignatius Circus Club, a photo booth and more."

To register for the walk, visit www.hospicewr.org.