Hospice of the Chesapeake Unveils Blue Elephant Canvas Project

Having traveled from a town west of Pretoria, South Africa, one might expect the art created by children from Brits-Haartbeesport Hospice would look different than that created by children from Maryland.

But the art that was unveiled during a reception held in the evening of April 27 on the Hospice of the Chesapeake’s John & Cathy Belcher Campus in Pasadena was just as one might find in a home of a child here: A tree with palm prints for leaves; a yellow owl against a blue sky; a rainbow jumping over an orange sun. The bright and cheery pictures demonstrate that even in the face of great loss and pain, children across the globe can still find hope and joy with the help of pediatric hospice and children’s grief programs.

The artwork is part of a display for the Blue Elephant Canvas Project, brought home by Hospice of the Chesapeake volunteers Elizabeth Liechty and Tambra Ruff from their 2015 personal mission trip to Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice, Hospice of the Chesapeake’s sister hospice since 2003.

The project goal is to raise funds and awareness of Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Chesapeake Kids program which includes pediatric hospice, perinatal support and children’s grief programs and its partnership with Brits-Hartbeespoort Hospice.

During the reception, guests viewed more than 20 canvases on display as well as jewelry incorporating some of the images from the children’s art and beaded bracelets also made by the children. Sales of the canvases, jewelry and other donations made throughout the evening helped to raise close to $10,000 to support Chesapeake Kids.

For details, visit www.hospicechesapeake.org or contact Laurie Harrison, Director of the Chesapeake Life Center, at 410-980-2129, Ext. 1278, or lharrison@hospicechesapeake.org.

Caring for life throughout the journey with illness and loss is the mission of Hospice of the Chesapeake. For more information, please visit www.hospicechesapeake.org.