Shining a light for Mr. Hospice
Annual Let Their Light Shine campaign kicks off for the month
For almost 30 years, Blair MacEwen was a companion to palliative care patients and provided support for grieving families.
The dedicated Hospice P.E.I. volunteer held the hands of dying patients, wiped away tears, and went to nearly every fundraising event held by the not-for-profit organization.
“He was a people person,” said his wife, Cheryl. “He loved visiting and helping people.”
Blair died suddenly in February from suspected heart problems.
His memory lived on this past Sunday during Hospice P.E.I.’s 24th annual Let Their Light Shine campaign.
Blair’s wife, Cheryl, their daughters, Joann Stretch and Loarlie MacEwen, and granddaughters Sarah and Rhiannon MacEwan lit the first light on the memory tree for the campaign during a ceremony at the Charlottetown Mall.
“It was an honour, and I know Blair would have been pleased with that,” said Cheryl.
Blair started volunteering for Hospice P.E.I. shortly after his father-in-law died in 1988.
“We kept (my father) at home, and he wanted to be home, so I think Blair saw the need that other people that didn’t have family would benefit,” she said. “He just believed in it,”
Blair was devoted to Hospice P.E.I. ever since. He also volunteered with his church and various other community organizations.
He was a staple at Hospice P.E.I. events and helped organize many functions.
“He was one of the most committed volunteers,” said volunteer co-ordinator Andrea Conway.
“If I assigned Blair to do something, I could just relax. He would do it and then he would do it 110 per cent.”
Conway said Blair is comparable to founding member of Hospice P.E.I. Ellen Davies.
“I always think of Ellen Davies as Mrs. Hospice,” she said. “And I always think of Blair as being Mr. Hospice.”
There are 15 memory trees at the Charlottetown Mall, which will stay there until Dec. 21. There are also trees in Summerside, O’Leary, Tignish and Alberton for a limited time.
For every person whose memory is commemorated on the tree, a light on the tree will be turned on.
Anyone can go to one of the Hospice P.E.I. memory tree locations to place a card and turn on a light to remember a loved one. Volunteers will be available to accept donations.
Last year’s Let Their Light Shine campaign raised $25,000.
Over the last 15 years, the campaign has raised roughly $300,000.