Swing into fall at the Hospice Fall Bazaar

Hospice. To those who are facing a loved one's final days, the word is about comfort.

"Hospice is important because it provides a service at the end of life that's really needed by families and patients," Hospice's Candice Cook said.

And while "fun" is not a word typically associated with Hospice, a Saturday banquet will put the "fun" in "fundraising."

"It's a really fun night to raise funds for High Country Hospice patient care," Cook said.

This year's High Country Hospice Fall Ball is a celebration of life, complete with dining, dancing, the Silvio Martinat Swing Band and a huge silent auction.

"We have a cabin stay," she said. "We have handmade local pottery... lots of restaurant gift cards, packages for the zipline..."

And more.

"This is our biggest fundraiser," Cook said, and it's the only Hospice fundraiser in Blowing Rock.

It all happens Saturday at the Blowing Rock Country Club (200 Country Club Drive, Blowing Rock) from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $75 each.

Hospice, a High Country United Way funded agency, provides physical and mental support to terminally ill patients and their families by emphasizing "caring" rather than "curing."

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.highcountryhospice.org.