400 butterflies released at 10th annual Langley fundraiser

Laura Hunt released two butterflies at the 10th Annual Butterfly Release Charity Event: one for her friends' deceased loved ones and one for her parents.

Her late father, Harry Hunt, was present at the first butterfly release ten years ago and was offered the opportunity to release one of the remaining butterflies – which he did in honour of his wife, who had died six months earlier.

The late photographer of the Aldergrove Star had no idea that he was starting a tradition that his daughter is continuing.

“Dad did it for two years after Mom died,” Laura explained. “Then he died and we took over.”

Laura is familiar with hospice and long-term care because her mother was in hospice care before she died.

“It was hard for my father, they were married for almost 50 years,” she recalls.

After her parents died, Laura sought counseling services from the Langley Hospice Society and expressed her gratitude for their help.

“They really helped me and gave me the tools [I needed],” she said.

In honor of her father, Laura continues his tradition and releases a butterfly.

On Saturday afternoon, August 17, about 400 painted ladies were released into the rain-soaked garden of Krause Berry Farms.

Not everyone has a specific reason for releasing a butterfly, says executive director Shannon Todd Booth. Some come simply to support the organizations or to share “the emotion and togetherness of butterfly releases.”

“There are many ways to remember a loved one, such as planting flowers or seedlings, and releasing butterflies is one of them,” says Todd Booth, noting that rituals and traditions are a common way to process loss and cope with grief.

Funds raised by the event will benefit Langley Hospice and Langley Lodge, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this September.