Smithfield — A dozen people in rocking chairs stood out amid the hustle and bustle of doctors, nurses and patients at Johnston Medical Mall.

Then again, volunteers with Johnston Memorial Home Care and Hospice hoped to garner attention with Rockin’ for Hope, their seemingly out-of-place fundraiser on Thursday. They rocked for 12 hours to raise money and awareness for the hospice program, which provides care and support to terminally ill Johnston County residents.

Hospice volunteer Kelly Emory came up with the idea for the rock-a-thon last year, when she realized some older volunteers couldn’t take part in a traditional fundraising activities like walks and races. “It was something physically not challenging for everybody,” she said.

This year, the event’s goal was to raise $5,000 to help hospice patients pay bills and carry out their final wishes.

“One patient wanted to go fishing at Atlantic Beach,” said Laura Hurt, volunteer coordinator. Last year’s fundraiser also helped a 34-year-old mother take her kids to Disney World before she died.

The rock-a-thon also seeks to raise awareness about hospice services and recruit new volunteers. Volunteers visit hospice patients and help them with their needs.

Jean Wilkins was one of the volunteers taking part in the rock-a-thon. She recently spent the night watching a hospice patient to give family members a chance to sleep.

“I enjoy being around elderly people,” Wilkins said. But she added that patient deaths can be hard emotionally. “You just cry along with [the family] when they’re deceased,” she said.

The program will need more volunteers like Wilkins when it opens an 18-bed hospice center next March on Hospital Road next to the National Guard Armory. Much of the money for the $3.8 million center came from individual and business donors. The hospice center will house patients who can no longer be cared for in their homes.

Despite the solemn nature of hospice work, the rock-a-thon had an upbeat atmosphere with live music and a raffle. Donors and rockers received tickets for the raffle, which included items donated by area businesses. Among the prizes were free lawn services, will writing and a blood-pressure monitor.

The hospice program is still accepting donations for the fundraiser. Volunteers had raised $4,000 by the start of the event. Donations can be mailed to Johnston Memorial Hospital Home Care Division, P.O. Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577.

The hospice program has been a part of Johnston Health since 1994 and includes a team of nurses, chaplains and social workers in addition to volunteers.