The audience at Hospice Wellington’s fourth Embracing Beauty event on April 23 at the Hanlon Convention Centre was treated to a glittering New York-style runway show.
It featured incredible fashions, stunning footwear and extravagant Avant-Garde hair styles, organizers state.
But even in the midst of all of that glitz and glamour, no one would argue that the highlight of the evening occurred when Guelph personality, Paul Osborne, took to the stage to share his family’s very personal experience with Hospice Wellington.
Osborne, an education administrator, local Sports writer, father of three and widower, told of his family’s Hospice Wellington journey three years ago, when his wife Susan chose to spend her final days on-site at the state of the art residence in Guelph’s south end.
“As a caregiver, a husband and a father, being able to lean on hospice in a time when I myself was existing in a fog and dealing with my own deep grief and pain was like being tossed a lifeline,” Osborne said.
“Hospice and their team of experts lifted so many burdens, and allowed us just to be together as a family for those last few, very precious days.”
Hospice Wellington offers compassionate support and expert care to individuals and their families through the end-of-life journey both on-site at their 10 bed residence, and in the community at private residences.
“While there is no charge to our clients, Hospice Wellington could not exist without the community donations and support we receive to supplement available government funding,” said Todd Fraleigh, executive director of Hospice Wellington. “We are beyond thrilled with the awareness and success of this fantastic fundraising event, and we are so grateful to Derrick and Julio and the team at Valentini’s for their hard work and creativity. They have tapped into a new, younger audience for us to connect with.”
Embracing Beauty was brought to life in 2013 by Derrick Rutherford and Julio Rodriguez, owners of Valentini Hair Design and Esthetics, and has since grown to become one of the hottest tickets in town, organizers state.
“We travel throughout Canada and across the globe performing at industry hair, beauty and fashion events. That is something that the general public typically doesn’t get to see,” Rutherford said.
“We thought it would be fun to share a little peek behind the sequined curtain with our clients in Guelph, and help raise awareness and funds for Hospice Wellington at the same time.”
The evening featured a New York-style runway show, Avant Garde styling by celebrated Matrix Canada hair artist, Derek Wierzbicki, a live auction, and scotch tasting.
All funds raised at Embracing Beauty go towards supporting Hospice Wellington’s many community programs and services such as grief and bereavement care, counselling and services; art therapy; caregiver support and volunteer training.
