NEW PORTLAND — On Aug. 10, musician Danny Taylor teamed up with Happy Horseshoe Campground owners “Buster” and Judy Pinkham and more than 25 volunteers to host a hospice benefit at the campground. Taylor donated his time and talents to organize the event as well as provided the evening’s entertainment with his band, while the Pinkhams hosted a silent auction and a bean hole bean supper along with a 50/50 raffle and bake sale with all proceeds benefiting Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, Hospice Volunteers of Waterville and Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County.

Working with several volunteers from all different counties including fellow campers, the committee collected merchandise and services donated from area businesses to help make the event hugely successful. Taylor and the Pinkhams hope to make this an annual event at the campground.

On hand for the fundraiser were Jim Bouchard, director of marketing and development at Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice; Nina Pleasants, executive director of Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County; and Susan Roy, executive director of Hospice Volunteers of the Waterville Area.

Roy made the opening remarks for the festivities and explained that hospice programs provide care and comfort for individuals and their families during the process of dying and bereavement. Hospice volunteers and professionals are trained to help individuals with the physical, social, psychological, spiritual and emotional needs related to terminal illness. Hospice care is based on a philosophy that emphasizes quality of life and the patient’s role in making decisions about his or her care.

Taylor remarked upon the importance that the money raised for this event was going to benefit local hospice programs within the communities that the campground serves. In doing so, three counties (Franklin, Somerset and Kennebec Counties) were each given more than $3,300 to benefit hospice services in their area. Taylor also noted that each and every person at the event knows someone or is someone who has been affected by cancer, making this event near and dear to everyone’s heart.

Taylor and the Pinkhams would like to thank the volunteers who worked so hard on the benefit with them. Taylor said, “Though I realize that our donation is small, I know that our event and the funds raised will assist individuals and families in their time of need as well as inspire others to help.”

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