Marblehead Resident Walking for Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston

Life, as they say, has a way of coming full circle. For Mia Klein of Marblehead, she’s seen this happen in three important ways.

“My mother always taught us to be givers,” she says. “Through the years, I’ve taken that to heart and given either time or money to charities, such as Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston. I never realized that that they’d give back to me after so many years.”

Mia became involved with Hospice several years ago by participating in their Annual Walk to honor a dear friend who had passed away from breast cancer and received care from a hospice. 

“You never really realize what a hospice community can do for you until you’re in it,” she says. “The amount of sensitivity, warmth, understanding and commitment everyone at Hospice gives to their patients and their families is remarkable.”
After being involved as a walk participant and then seeing both her parents volunteer at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, which is part of Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston, Mia learned even more deeply about the care Hospice provides when her mother became a resident at Kaplan House as she ended her battle with cancer.
“People often only associate hospice with end of life, which is something that is hard for people to think about. The amazing thing about Hospice and Kaplan House is the services provided to bring comfort and create a peaceful environment. There are things like service dogs to help bring peace and joy to residents and their families, there are places around the grounds of Kaplan House where people can reflect and honor loved ones. There is a place for children to play while their parents visit family members, and there are people who help people as they start to grieve.”

This year will be Mia Klein’s eighth time participating in Hospice’s Annual Walk, and it will no doubt be the most meaningful one, having just lost her mother a few months ago. “For me, I can honestly say that spreading awareness about Hospice is my life’s calling. I felt it the moment I saw the care my dear friend received so many years ago, and I felt it even more so knowing my mother was so comforted at the end of her life, and she was able to pass on with dignity.”

The 26th Annual Walk for Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston will take place Sunday, September 22 at St. John’s Preparatory Academy at 72 Spring St. in Danvers. Registration begins at 8am at the Ryken Building and the 3-mile walk begins at 9am. Shorter walk routes and tribute laps will also be available. Proceeds from the Walk help fund Hospice services not covered by insurance, including compassionate care for the uninsured and underinsured, grief counseling through the Bertolon Center for Grief and Healing, complementary therapies, volunteer training, palliative care and much more.

To register for or donate to the Walk for Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston, please click here: http://bit.ly/1fUH6zK