Hospice movement launches coffee morning

AN APPEAL has been launched by St Francis Hospice for Northsiders to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends or colleagues in a bid to raise much needed funds.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, which takes place on Thursday, September 20.

Hospice care, like other areas of the health service, has been affected by cutbacks and local fundraising is essential to ensure that vital hospice services are maintained.

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning is an all-island fundraising event. Now in its twentieth year, the event raises vital funds each year for local care services all over Ireland.

Bewley’s is the long standing supporter of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, providing complimentary fresh ground coffee packs to all morning hosts.

Over the past two decades, people have consumed 15 million cups of Bewley’s coffee and raised an estimated e30 million.

On the day, people in workplaces, homes and local organisations across Ireland are being asked to hold a coffee morning and to collect e2 for each cup of Bewley’s fresh coffee consumed. All money raised locally goes directly back to fund local hospice care services.

Since 1989 St Francis Hospice has provided a service of specialist palliative care to Northsiders in advanced stages of cancer, motor neuron disease and HIV/AIDS, as well as support for their families and friends.

There are no charges for services provided by St Francis Hospice. The current range of services within the community includes Raheny Hospice and Blanchardstown Hospice.

The construction cost of the new St Francis Hospice was

?¬22 million and through extraordinary effort by the community this capital debt has now been reduced to

?¬10 million.

Ethel McKenna, the CEO of St Francis Hospice, stated:

“We are very dependent on the funds raised through Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning. Community support is the backbone of our local service and is absolutely essential, particularly in this difficult economic climate.

“Without public support and contributions, the hospice service would struggle to deliver the care, comfort and dignity that families require at the most vulnerable time in their lives.

“We would appeal to the community to once again support our coffee morning on September 20 by either hosting a coffee morning or supporting an event that is already taking place. All money raised locally, stays locally. It’s not only a great opportunity to get together with friends, families, colleagues over a cup of coffee but it also raises vital funds for your local hospice service.

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Anyone can host a coffee morning and Bewley’s provides the fresh ground coffee free of charge. Registration advice and details on how to get your special complimentary Bewley’s fresh ground coffee pack can be obtained by contacting St Francis Hospice, Dee Kinane/Katrina Buchanan on 01-8327535, info@sfh.ie, stfrancishospice.ie. People can also register to host a coffee morning on www.Irelandsbiggestcoffeemorning.ie