Weather holds out for this year's Hospice Cup

This year's fundraiser supported five hospices: Calvert Hospice, Capital Hospice, Hospice of the Chesapeake, Montgomery Hospice and Talbot Hospice Foundation. Each meets the standards of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Since the first Hospice Cup in 1982, almost $8 million has been raised for hospices in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., areas.

The money allows the hospices to carry out their mission of providing skilled compassionate care, comfort and dignity to the terminally ill, their families and friends. Funds raised by the race are used specifically to help families pay expenses not covered by Medicare or private insurance.

Erwin Abrams, president and CEO of Hospice of the Chesapeake, was named honorary chairman of the 2009 regatta, joining past chairmen that included Walter Cronkite, Pat Sajak, Gary Jobson and others. Each year the Hospice Cup board of directors selects an individual who embodies the mission and goals of the organization to serve as honorary chairman.

"I have never seen an organization hold fast to its values and commitment to community to the extent that the Hospice of the Chesapeake does - even in these difficult times, our support has been unwavering," said Abrams, who will be leaving his post after a 16-year career on Jan. 1.

He was hired by longtime Hospice volunteer and board member Hank Lawton, who says Abrams is a godsend to the organization. "It was the best decision I ever made," recalled Lawton, who is known as "Mr. Hospice" among Hospice volunteers.

As the party got under way, there were plenty of enthusiastic bidders in a live auction. Bottles of fine wine brought in hefty bids, like $1,000 from Annapolis resident Jim Wilburn for a gigantic bottle of wine. Ron and Elaine Bower of Arnold donated a one-week stay at their condominium in Ocean City, bringing in a bid of more than $1,000.

"The Hospice gives an awful lot to the community and people," Ron Bower said of the couple's motivation to donate to the auction.

Following the main regatta on the Chesapeake Bay was a Junior Regatta, new to the Hospice Cup sailing roster, which included 16 top performing junior racers from the Chesapeake region. The junior sailors competed in a team racing format using Optimist dinghy sailboats.

In honor of the new junior race, an image by Aaron Marshall, a freshman at Anne Arundel Community College, was printed on T-shirts and posters and auctioned off for $1,000 at the party.

Dick Wheeler, 67, is a Hospice volunteer who has steadily taken on more responsibilities and job training since joining the Hospice in 2006. He also was on the receiving end of their services when his wife, Kim, passed away in 2005. "I was pretty amazed at the service I got at home and after moving (Kim) to the Hospice House," he said.

After going through the grieving process, he decided to volunteer with the organization, starting out as an after-patient volunteer, then undergoing extra training to become a vigil volunteer to provide comfort to the caregiver and family during a loved one's last hours. He also does outreach activities and is part of the Hospice's Speakers Bureau.

"Frankly, the Hospice is one of the most amazing organizations with a selfless attempt to play a role in helping people through an incredible hard time," Wheeler said. "Money is irrelevant - the Hospice doesn't care if you are rich or poor; you get the same exact care."

The whole point, Wheeler...