In 2013 Cathy Solmonson spent two weeks at the Prince George Hospice Society Rotary House with her father.
End-of-life situations are always difficult and when Solmonson realized she needed to relieve some stress with some physical exercise but didn't want to leave the premises she was torn.
"If someone came to visit my dad I would pop out and go for a walk in the neighbourhood but I didn't want to go too far," said Solmonson. "So that made me think if they had something here I would be using it."
After her dad died and Solmonson went through her grieving process she decided to help those going through similar circumstances by creating a fitness room within the comforting walls of the hospice house.
"Cathy went around to a few fitness places and Rocky Mountain Fitness donated two pieces," said Bernadette Goudreau, operations manager for the society. A universal gym and a recumbent bike were from the fitness company and a family member donated a treadmill, Goudreau added. There is also a television with yoga DVDs sitting beside a player and there are some weights as well. Northern Hardware has donated a fan to circulate the air in the room.
"It's such a wonderful donation and we're so appreciative of the donors and for Cathy," said Goudreau.
"A lot of our families need to do self-care but they don't think of it but if it's here they can use it. They don't want to leave but they need to blow off some steam. So in the fitness room they can do that and they don't have to leave."
The fitness room, which all came together about a month ago, is located in the basement of the hospice house, where there is a bathroom with shower close by for the convenience of those working out.
Solmonson, who has volunteered at the hospice society for the last year or so, isn't quite finished with the project as yet.
"I would like to get a few more little things," said Solmonson.
"I would like to get more yoga equipment and I would like some mirrors and I'm hoping to get some inspirational sayings up on the wall for people."
