On August 16, 2008, I’ll be riding in the third annual Last Mile Ride to benefit end-of-life care at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vermont. I’ll be riding to honor the memory of Charles “Shod” McCullough, and to raise money for this exceptional non-profit hospital. Last year, I raised over $4,000 with your help, and my goal is to raise that amount again this year.
On February 15, 2007, Shod passed away from cancer in the Garden Room at Gifford, with family members by his side. Designed for terminally ill patients who are unable to die at home, the Garden Room is a special garden-side private suite for dying patients and their families, located in the hospital’s medical-surgical unit. The Gifford mission is to make the dying process as comfortable as possible and to relieve as much suffering as possible for the patient and family.
When I found out that Gifford has a fundraising motorcycle ride to raise money for its end-of-life services, I knew I had to do it for Shod and for his family: When Shod died, the family had asked that donations be made to the Garden Room, so this is an especially fitting way to honor his memory.
I’ve been blessed to know Shod for many years, and I can’t even begin to put into words what he meant to me. First, he was the dad of my best friend Laurie in high school, and he and his wife Sally became my second family - I think I spent more time there than at my own house. Years later, he became family again - his son Dwayne and I have been together for seven years, and besides being able to observe a remarkable father/son relationship, I was able to again see how much Shod meant to all of his family and community.
The Last Mile Ride begins and ends at the Gifford Medical Center, and winds 100 miles around the Vermont countryside. Money raised directly benefits end-of-life care at Gifford, and also helps terminally ill patients receive alternative therapies that insurances don’t cover.
Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Thank you for joining me as I ride the Last Mile for those in the last mile of their lives.
- Crystal Waters
