The month of November is recognized as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to help raise awareness about the highest quality of care for all individuals coping with a life-limiting illness. The theme this year is "It's about how you live". 

Every year, nearly 1.6 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.  Rockbridge Area Hospice treats over 150 individuals each year ensuring that the patients and their families find dignity, respect and love during one of life's most difficult journey's.  

Hospice is not a place. Rockbridge Area Hospice provides care to provide pain management, symptom control, psycho-social support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. This care is provided at their home, in a facility or even at the local hospital.

Throughout the month of November, Rockbridge Area Hospice will be joining other hospice and palliative care organizations across the nation in posting information on social media platforms and hosting activities that will help the local community understand how important hospice care truly can be. 

The ninth annual Classic Kenney's Cruise-In Saturday September 30th at Rockbridge County High School raised over $73,000 dollars for Rockbridge Area Hospice patients and families, a record breaking event. 

Organizers and volunteers welcomed 860 registered vehicles and are estimating that attendance was close to 10,000 spectators. "This was the most successful car show to date, a truly remarkable day for Rockbridge Area Hospice and all of the companies that provided sponsorship and prizes as well as the volunteers that worked tirelessly before during and after event, " said WD Goad of Goad's Body Shop, which presents the annual Kenney's Classic Cruise-In.  

The Results: 

Truck
1st Place Mike Pugh Forest, VA 4x4 Truck
2nd Place Richard Simmons Troutville, VA 1936 Dodge Pickup
3rd Place Russ Harlow Lexington, VA 1936 Chevy Pickup
Motorcycle
1st Place: Dale Meador Bedford, VA 1975 Harley Davidson Shovel head
2nd Place: Tom Groton Salem, VA 2005 Custom 
3rd Place: Peter Knick Lexington, VA 1939 Indian Sport Scout
50's 
1st Place: Douglas & Anna Witt Evington, VA 1938 Ford Truck 
2nd Place: Bert Brasz Lexington, VA 1931 Ford Model A pickup
3rd Place: Coffman Verona, VA 1941 Willy's
60's-70's
1st Place: Don Carter Natural Bridge, VA 1964 Buick Riviera 
2nd Place: Zach Straits Staunton, VA 1961 Ford Starliner
3rd Place: Robert Reed Lynchburg, VA 1970 Road Runner
80's
1st Place: Dave Simmons Roanoke, VA 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8
2nd Place: Stephanie Noel Daleville, VA 2011 Pontiac Trans Am 
3rd Place: Dave & Sandy Mayberry Evington, VA 2011 Camaro Bumblebee
Best Paint
Zach Straits Staunton, VA 1961 Ford Starliner
Farthest Distance 
Bryan Shorter Panama City, Florida 1966 Chevelle SS
​
To view more pictures and info from this event, be sure to visit the official page on Facebook, Classic Kenney's Cruise In. 
​

How to Know if You Need Help
Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a person needs additional help in dealing with grief issues. The following are some clues to look for in helping you to make the determination of whether you need additional help in grieving.
Postponing Grief
If you find yourself ignoring your grief thinking that it will go away, you may be having a complicated grief reaction.  Denial is normal early in grief, but long term denial is a sign that you may not be working through your grief.
Displacing Grief Emotions
Do you find yourself angry, bitter, and possibly even feeling hateful emotions?  If you are connecting these emotions to your grief that is normal, but if you are displacing these emotions on other family members or other things in your life this may be a sign that you need help in working through your grief.
Replacing Grief
Do you find yourself not wanting to leave work?  Are you drinking more?  Or are you looking to reinvest yourself in a new relationship?  You may be attempting to replace your grief, trying to displace those emotions so that you don’t have to feel them by filling them with other activities.
Feeling only physical symptoms of grief
Do you find yourself completely preoccupied by your health condition?  Do you find you have more physical ailments after the death of your loved one?  You may be trying to ignore your grief emotions and your grief is presenting itself in physical form.  You would do well to speak with a professional and begin working out your grief.
 
If you think that you or a loved one need help dealing with grief, please call or email:
Kam Flynn, MSW
Patient and Family Care Supervisor
540-463-1848
Kam.Flynn@RAHospice.org