The Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) Palliative Care Unit held their annual fundraising bake sale on Tuesday. The sale has been going on for at least 20 years. 

Volunteer Lorna Wieler says, "two palliative care nurses that work half-time, it pays for their salary, plus a half-time palliative volunteer coordinator."

Palliative Care provides emotional support and physical care for people with diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders, to name a few. There are nine different rooms in the BTHC that are designated for this care.

"The rooms are furnished with fridges, and microwaves, and coffeemakers, and all those things that are above what the government pays for," she says.

The workers and volunteers read to people and help connect them with the world outside of the room they're in as they sometimes feel like the world is moving on without them. Wieler says she feels lucky to support people in such an important way and thankful that they allow her into their lives at such a trying time of their life.

She loves to "make someone's day a little bit brighter when they have to sit in the hospital when they're going through treatments, or if a family is going through the process of the end of the life for someone."

This is why fundraising is so essential to the unit because they have to find their own funding.

"In order for people to get support for cancer treatment and whatnot, and the needed care they need in these special rooms, you have to fundraise," says Wieler.

A total of $2,650 was raised at this year's bake sale, up $500 from last year.