Andy Land, 52, director of the Hospice and Palliative Care Services, at Agnesian Health Care, Fond du Lac, is on a mission to raise awareness and money for hospice education in Wisconsin and to get people’s attention—he is leaving March 25 to climb Mt. Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. A relative paid the cost of the $40,000 epic journey so every dollar raised in the “Climbing for Hospice” campaign will go toward educating the public about hospice and training hospice staff and volunteers in the ever-changing and highly regulated hospice services and programs. Land, an avid climber, said taking on Mt. Everest evokes the courage, dignity and determination that describe hospice patients he has worked with throughout his career. The challenging feat involves 6000 more vertical feet than other mountains he has climbed and he will need to use portable oxygen for the first time. His training regimen includes a minimum of two hours a day at the Fond du Lac YMCA where he works with a trainer and chalks up many miles on the treadmill. He also pulls a heavy sled loaded with gear up snowy hills, but, unlike kids, doesn’t have the pleasure of sliding back down. Land is hoping people who already understand the benefits of hospice or have been touched by hospice care will support his cause, as well as those who admire his courage to try to reach the summit in mid-May. Only four Wisconsin residents have made it to the top. “I will do my very best but if I don’t get all the way to the summit, I feel it is not wasted effort. I’ve still accomplished the goal to spread the word about hospice,” he said. Land has served as president of the board of directors of HOPE (Hospice Organization and Palliative Experts) of Wisconsin, which is the non-profit association launching the fundraising campaign. He continues to serves as a board member.More than 75 hospices around Wisconsin belong to the statewide organization. www.hopeofwisconsin.org Land, who is certified in the field of hospice and palliative care nursing said because people are living longer and there are now more people 65 and older than 20 and under in the United States, it is critical to make sure people know how hospice can help. It’s all about hoping for a more peaceful end of life journey with as little pain as possible, as well as meaningful goodbyes, he said. As a hospice nurse over the past 14 years, Andy has worked with thousands of patients and their families struggling with terminal illnesses. For more information on Land’s climb and how to support Team Andy: www.climbingforhospice.org or call Hope of Wisconsin at (800) 210-0220.
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