Hospice of Charleston breaks ground on the Lowcountry's first hospice house.

Hospice of Charleston announces its plans to break ground for the first hospice house of Charleston on May 27 at 11 a.m. at the site located on Wando Park Blvd., Mt. Pleasant.

Participating in the ceremony will be the campaign chairs, which are leaders of the local hospital systems: David Dunlap, CEO, Roper-St. Francis Healthcare; Michael Joyce, CEO, Trident Health System; Stuart Smith, vice prresident of operations and executive director, MUSC Medical Center and Andrea Wozniak, CEO, East Cooper Regional Medical Center. Mayor Harry Hallman, Jr. of the town of Mt. Pleasant will also be in attendance.

A dove release is planned to connote the peace and dignity Hospice House of Charleston designers hope to inspire.

Hospice of Charleston has raised more than $2 million of the $3 million goal to build the 20-bed facility that features private bedrooms, a family kitchen and is surrounded by beautiful live oaks and garden.

"We are excited about our opportunity to provide families with a range of choices as they face one of life's biggest challenges," said Kit Cosgrove, Hospice of Charleston executive director.