Ian’s walks for palliative care highlights ICPCN NOW campaign

Earlier this year Ian Bos lost his father, Teddy, to cancer, after putting up a brave fight. Although it was a difficult journey for the family, they received much needed support from the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. The Bos family, together with the team from Aberdeen Palliative Care Society were able to provide palliative care and keep Teddy in the comfort of his own home until his passing at the age of 68. 

Ian was incredibly touched by the difference a palliative care approach made to his father’s quality of life, and was inspired to start a walk across Canada to raise funds and awareness of palliative care. Ian began his walk on 21 May and has walked an incredible 3256 km so far. 

“Ian’s Walk for End of Life Care” hopes to raise funds and awareness of palliative care societies across Canada, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), as well as the provincial palliative care associations.

Ian recently highlighted the importance of the work of the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) across social networks, saying “the ICPCN is raising awareness of the estimated 21 million babies, children and young people around the world that could benefit from palliative care. Today we want to highlight their international efforts to raise awareness, to lobby governments to do more, and to provide a space to share their best practices.” 

Ian expressly emphasised his support of the ICPCN’s NOW campaign, “We give them our full support in all their efforts to do more for the youngest in our society. I walk for those at the end of their lives and for all the passionate workers and volunteers providing palliative care to those in their final days,” he wrote on his Facebook page. 

The ICPCN launched the NOW campaign in 2015 to raise the profile of children’s palliative care globally. To find out how you can get involved, visit www.icpcn.org/the-icpcn-now-campaign. 

Ian is halfway to his goal of raising $25000 for the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society. To support Ian and follow his progress visit, follow him on social networks or click here to visit his website.