Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 13, 2017 – Lots of celebrities will be on hand when the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give kicks off this week, but one special limousine will be filled with VIPs looking to create lasting memories for a hospice patient.
Thanks to the generosity of Meijer, Emmanuel Hospice patient Edith “Betty” Piepenbrink will be able to fulfill her wish of getting on the fairways one final time. The 94-year-old patient and her nurse will be special guests of Meijer on Thursday when the LPGA Classic opens at Blythefield Country Club.
Piepenbrink will enjoy a day on the links complete with golf cart chauffer, clubhouse access, LPGA swag and a walk on the course. She will arrive in style, thanks to a limousine donated by Dadd’s Magic Bus & Limousine that will chauffeur her to and from the course.
The media are welcome to talk with Piepenbrink while she is at the Meijer LPGA Classic. She plans to arrive around 11 a.m. and depart at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. In the event of rain, she will visit on Friday, June 16.
Piepenbrink was a life-long golfer and dedicated fan of the sport. For decades, golf was her favorite hobby, and she would watch the sport as much as possible. The Chicago native now lives in Grand Rapids at Pilgrim Manor, where she is under the care of Emmanuel Hospice.
“We always start by asking our patients, ‘How do you want to live? What would bring meaning to you?’” said Sara Lowe, executive director of Emmanuel Hospice. “We then work with patients and their families to connect with those things that bring peace, strength or joy, creating special memories in the face of serious illness.
“We are so grateful to Meijer for its tremendous generosity in providing Betty with such a VIP experience. She was almost speechless when we told her about the plans last week. We also appreciate the kindness of Dadd’s Magic Bus for its gift of stylish transportation.”
Emmanuel Hospice was approached by Piepenbrink’s grandson, who informed them of his grandmother’s
love of golf. Emmanuel Hospice was able to make Piepenbrink’s wish a reality through the support of Meijer and Dadd’s Magic Bus.
“We are delighted that Betty will be able to enjoy the sport she loves in such a wonderful setting,” said Cathy Cooper, executive director of the Meijer LPGA Classic. “We really hope to spoil her on Thursday.
“At Meijer, we support the good work that hospice providers, like Emmanuel Hospice, do for patients and families in our community. We are happy to partner with our neighbors at Emmanuel Hospice to enrich the communities in which we work and live.”
About Emmanuel Hospice
Emmanuel Hospice is a faith-based nonprofit provider of compassionate, person-centered hospice care to patients and families in West Michigan. Serving the community since 2013, the organization is a collaborative effort of St. Ann’s, Clark, Porter Hills and Sunset designed to complete the continuum by providing end-of-life care to those inside – and outside – the walls of these organizations. For more information, visit www.emmanuelhospice.org.