Married couple shine as hospice heroes

A married Southside couple have been recognised as Hospice Sunflower Heroes for their work on behalf of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services in Harold’s Cross.

Mairead and PJ McArdle were honoured at an event to mark the launch of National Sunflower Days, which takes place in June.

Over the last 12 years, Mairead and PJ have raised over

?¬15,000 for Sunflower Days from collecting in their local Supervalu shop in Mount Merrion.

“Having both friends and family who have used hospice services, PJ and I decided to give something back once we retired,

? Mairead said.

In their nomination, Our Lady’s praised the couple’s

“dedication, good humour, hard work and kindness

?.

The Hospice Sunflower Heroes were announced at the launch of the 2014 Sunflower Days campaign which will take place on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, 7.

Over the course of the two-day campaign, people will be able to support their local hospice service by purchasing various pieces of Sunflower merchandise including sunflower pins or sunflower seeds for e2 each from collectors on the streets of cities, towns and villages around the country.

Hospice Sunflower Days is a major source of income for hospices and voluntary hospice groups countrywide.

The IHF coordinates the event on behalf of the hospice movement but all funds raised locally, stay locally.

Currently Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services need to raise e2.5 million annually just to maintain existing services for patients and their families on the Southside.

As she helped to launch the campaign, RTE’s Mary Kennedy said:

“Communities throughout Ireland have played a pivotal role in developing hospice services.

“This year the support is even more important considering the difficult environment charities are operating in. We hope the public will continue to give generously to this very worthy cause and remember a donation can go a long way to bringing comfort and dignity to people at the end-of-life.

?

Hospice or palliative care involves the total care of patients and their families at the stage in a serious illness, where the focus has switched from treatment aimed at cure to ensuring quality of life.

Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services provide in-patient palliative care from two facilities in Harold’s Cross and Blackrock while over 11,000 visits were made by their Community Palliative Care team to people in their own homes.

For more information and to volunteer with your local hospice service for Hospice Sunflower Days visit www.sunflowerdays.ie