Walking to bring end of life peace

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 9/24/15

It is never easy to watch a loved one pass, but Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, can help families not only with grief counseling but in keeping a terminally ill patient comfortable during the …

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Walking to bring end of life peace

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It is never easy to watch a loved one pass, but Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, can help families not only with grief counseling but in keeping a terminally ill patient comfortable during the most difficult time of their lives.

Despite the care and peace of mind the organization can provide, Megan Moran, a 17-year-old senior at Warwick Veterans High School, found that hospice care rarely receives the same support as medical conditions themselves do.

Several years ago, Megan had a close family friend, Valerie Martinelli, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, which quickly spread to the brain and liver. At the end of 2013, after a year of battling her cancer, Martinelli passed away at the age of 50. In the last few months of her life Martinelli used hospice services.

Megan, who remains friends with Martinelli’s daughter, said she always hears stories about how kind, loving and strong Martinelli was and wished she could have been closer to her family friend.

When it came time to decide what to do for her senior project, Megan immediately knew she wanted to do something in memory of Martinelli. She quickly realized that cancer had numerous organizations hosting walks and fundraisers, but hospice care, despite being a reality for so many cancer sufferers, was often overlooked.

“It’s something you really don’t think about. No one wants to be in pain and dying, but having symptoms managed and pain controlled in the last few months or days can mean the world to someone,” Megan said.

Megan’s grandmother, Patricia Moran, said Martinelli was really the first person Megan had been close to that experienced that sort of decline and it had a great impact on her granddaughter.

“She has worked so hard on this project and been so successful,” she said. “She’s so sweet, she can ask for help or donations without seeming like a pest.”

For her senior project Megan toured the hospice facility and has been reaching out to businesses in the community to sponsor her event.

Megan, who hopes to get into the nursing program at the University of Rhode Island after graduation, said the project has been “stressful” but has enjoyed coming up with ideas, seeing them “come to fruition and do well.”

She said, “I never thought creating a walk would be this much work.”

Initially, Megan set a goal of $1,500, but even before the event has raised more than $1,000. With an estimated 75 to 100 people showing up to the walk, Megan expects they may surpass that goal and would love to present Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, with an even bigger donation.

“Honestly, I think I underestimated this whole project,” Megan said. “I never expected so many people would come out to support me and hospice care.”

Megan’s walk benefiting Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island will be this upcoming Sunday, Sept. 27 at City Park. Registration begins at 12:45 p.m. near the baseball fields, and although there is no required fee, attendees are encouraged to make a donation. After a brief speaking portion from Megan the walk will begin at 1 p.m.

After completing the loop participants are invited for refreshments and to purchase shirts for $20. Participants who raise more than $20 will receive a free t-shirt

For more information visit Megan’s page, www.gofundme.com/uj2brpb4, or the walk’s Facebook page at Home and Hospice Care of RI Fundraiser.

If you cannot attend the event but would care to donate, you can do so on the Gofundme page, or drop donations off at Vets High School, 2401 West Shore Rd., with checks made out to Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island.

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