McKee to open labyrinth experience to the disabled

LOVELAND, Colo.  (June 3, 2011) – McKee Medical Center will dedicate a hand labyrinth along the hospital’s Wellness Walk to extend the healing benefits of the walking labyrinth to those with limited mobility.

An open house and dedication of a new marble sculpture bearing the labyrinth design will take place Tuesday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the dedication ceremony at noon.

By tracing the labyrinth design by hand, participants can receive the same healing, meditative benefit as those who walk the full-size labyrinth.

With help from McKee Medical Center Foundation, the United Way and community volunteers, McKee installed the full-size labyrinth in October 2010. It provides patients and visitors with a unique healing space and is intended to provide an outlet for people seeking to meditate, center themselves, relax or rejuvenate.

To comply with the area’s level III Natural Area designation, materials used for construction are water permeable, making it difficult for participants with physical challenges to walk the labyrinth. Designers wanted to make sure the labyrinth could be experienced by everyone, so they worked with local sculptor Jade Windell to create a hand labyrinth.

For more information, please call Judy Chapman with the McKee Foundation at (970) 635-4105.