Page 26 - Sandy Jackman Pantai Hotel

Lights of

LightBridge

On Friday July 11, 2014 Old Poway Park
was glowing in the warmth of candlelight as
the attendees celebrated two of the bright-
est lights in the community. Peggy Davis
and Helen B. McNeal were being honored
at the second annual Lights of LightBridge
celebration, an event celebrating two very
special volunteers, who have dedicated not
only their time, but their hearts to those
traveling through their end of life journey
with the help of the amazing staff of Light-
Bridge Hospice and Palliative Care.
Peggy Davis has had a lifelong commit-
ment to volunteerism. She is a member
of La Mesa Sunrise Rotary, part of Rotary
International, a Worldwide Service orga-
nization whose motto is “Service Above
Self.” She is certainly a sterling example
of giving. With an affinity for animals since
childhood, Peggy has been raising and
training Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs since
1979. She is a Breeder of Merit with the
American Kennel Club. Peggy became in-
terested in Therapy Dog work in 2009, and
wanted to focus on visiting our Veterans.
When asked by her sister, Barbara Smith, a
Family Nurse Practitioner with LightBridge,
26 if she would be interested in visiting the
Veteran’s Home in Chula Vista, she jumped at
the opportunity. It was clear from the begin-
ning that Peggy was where she and her dogs
needed to be.
Helen McNeal is the Executive Director of the
California State University Institute for Pallia-
tive Care located at California State University
San Marcos. Prior to joining CSUSM, Helen
served as Vice President of San Diego Hos-
pice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
(SDHIPM) where she was responsible for all
of the operations of The Institute for Palliative
Medicine (IPM). In parallel with her business
career, Helen has also been instrumental, both
in the United States and Canada in helping to
advance the field of palliative and end-of-life
care. Helen has consulted with both U.S. and
Canadian government agencies on palliative
care strategies. Her dedication and determi-
nation to spread the word about palliative care
to the aging community has changed the lives
of so many San Diego residents.
After each of these women were honored, Proceeds from the lights of LightBridge
davidji, an internationally recognized medita- benefit the LightBridge Hospice Community
Foundation which will contribute to the Foun-
tion expert, stress-management counselor, dation's mission and supports exceptional
corporate trainer and author led the audience programs that enhance the end of life journey
to simultaneously light their candles, creat- for patients and their families throughout San
ing many points of light in representation of Diego. These programs include Simple Gifts
all of those we have loved and lost. Lights of (end of life wishes), Integrative Therapies,
LightBridge was a very unique and one that Music Therapy, Jewish Hospice Program
Fund and Fund for Excellence. For more
touched the hearts of all who attended. information or to make a donation visit their
site at http://lbhcf.org/