Easter egg hunt for adults raises funds for Southeast Hospice

The words "Easter egg hunt" conjure images of children racing across fields of grass, finding colorful eggs scattered about. However, at Saturday's adult Easter egg hunt, the youngest Easter egg hunter was 21 years old.

The adult Easter egg hunt was a fundraising event that benefited Southeast Hospice and was hosted by Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to raising funds for health and wellness programs at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Participants arrived Saturday evening at Deerfield Lodge in Cape Girardeau, where they were treated to a meal catered by The Branding Iron restaurant. Men and women rapidly filled the lodge, enjoying the open cash bar and the music provided by a DJ.

During the egg hunt, the participants sought the 2,600 eggs scattered outside the Deerfield Lodge. The eggs contained tabs that could be turned in for cash and prizes.

"It is incredible, the level of support the community has shown," said Debbie Linnes, CEO and president of Southeast Missouri Hospital. "They have made this event an overwhelming success."

"When we first began organizing this event, our original goal was to sell 200 to 250 tickets," said Cheryl Dietrich, development specialist for Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation. "But in the first four days of ticket sales 109 had been sold, and 310 were sold in just over three weeks."

She laughed as she recounted that they had to stop selling tickets to prevent overcrowding.

Sponsors of the event include Montgomery Bank, Hematology Oncology Associates of Southeast Missouri Hospital and DeWitt, a Sikeston, Mo.-based company whose owner used the services of Southeast Hospice when her mother died.

"Our sponsors are giving year-round," said Mary Hitt, executive director of Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation. "They, like this wonderful community, have embraced Southeast Hospice, and it is great to be able to give something back during this sacred time of the year."

Sheila Beussink, administrator of Southeast Hospice and Home Health, said the hospice provides a wide array of services to more than 300 families per year.

Beussink said having a full-time medical director makes a difference in the quality of care the hospice can offer. Dr. Donald Edwards is the medical director of Southeast Hospice.

"If there was one thing I could change about my experience with Southeast Hospice," said event attendee Rebecca Tallent, "It is that I would have enrolled sooner upon learning of my father's terminal cancer. Southeast Hospice allowed him to live his final months on his own terms. They brought the hospital to his home and were so caring and supportive." Tallent said she plans to give back to Southeast Hospice by enrolling in their volunteer caregiver program.

"Most people think that hospice care ends when the patient passes on," Hitt said, "but we continue to cultivate a relationship with our patients' families through grief counseling services long after the patient has passed away."