When Zoe Epperson, junior, moved to Minn. from Mo. last year, she left behind her dying friend Trevor Joerling. In his memory, Epperson helped raise $300,000 for Hospice services.

“I want to be his living legacy and continue to help people who can’t really help themselves by  bringing a smile to their face in whatever way possible,” Epperson said.

Epperson spoke about the way Joerling lived his final days after his 3-year battle with cancer. Epperson said that Trevor never complained about how much pain he was in or the suffering he was living with, knowing that sooner or later his life would end and others would have to go on without him.

Epperson began volunteering at Methodist Hospital Hospice on Mondays and weekends after moving to Minn. Hospice works with patients that have a terminal illness, giving people the extensive support, through medication and comfort, they need when reaching the end of their life. Through her volunteering, Epperson found the Hope Heals foundation.

“I mainly do patient check-in and concierge,” Epperson said.

Each year, Hope Heals chooses a cause for which to raise money and holds a gala as its biggest fundraiser. On Oct. 11, the Hope Heals gala raised money for Hospice services for patients like Trevor.

Tickets for the gala ranged from $200 to $2500. Ticket sales are a large source of revenue for the Hope Heals foundation. A portion of the revenue from ticket sales is then donated to Hospice. Other parts of the gala, such as the silent auction, where Epperson worked, helped raise an even larger sum of money.

In the silent auction, people would bid for the thousands of items they were interested in. During her time working the auction, Epperson heard stories and opinions about Hospice care.

“There were a lot of people at the gala who had specific connections to Hospice, and how Hospice had made their loved one’s last couple of months liveable and worth it,” Epperson said.