Balbriggan hero inspired by friend’s journey urges public support for Hospice

A momentary struggle on a bicycle set the wheels in motion for a special friendship between a Hospice hero and her late friend.

Originally from Rush and now living in Balbriggan, Dympna Pyne is asking members of the public to host a coffee morning for Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice on September 21, or if they can’t host, donate.

The nationwide event, supported by Bewley’s since 1992, has raised over €43.2million – and there is a €2million fundraising target this year.

“My friend Pauline and I moved into Balscadden around the same time and there was no school transport, so I would bring the kids to playschool on my bike,” said Dympna.

“I used to put my youngest boy in the baby seat and the one going to playschool in the saddle of the bike.

“Pauline spotted me struggling up the country road one morning. She stopped and said that she would take my son to playschool.

“That’s where our friendship of about 28 years started and it developed rapidly from there.”

Pauline passed away eight years ago last April and spent ten days in St Francis Hospice, which Dympna described as an invaluable time for friends and family to say goodbye.

“When she was in hospital and we knew she wouldn’t recover, her husband was asked whether they would like to move her to a hospice,” said Dympna.

“Their son was in Australia and they were hoping he would be able to make it back to see her. Pauline’s husband didn’t know what was the right thing to do.

“My daughter, who is a nurse, advised him to ask Pauline in one of her more lucid moments, and she decided to go to St Francis Hospice.

“She kind of came back a little bit when she was there. They were able to wheel her out to the garden, she loved the outdoors, and it gave her son the time to be with her and to say goodbye.

“I couldn’t get over the care and attention for the family, for Pauline, for her friends. It was an eye opener for me because I’d had no experience of a hospice before.”

Dympna introduced Pauline to a monthly book club with her friends, who were instrumental in the first year of the coffee morning.

“A friend of mine said that the community hall was available in Balscadden and, from there on in, we had our annual coffee morning. We hosted one the year Pauline died, so this year will be our ninth,” said Dympna.

“It’s like a social gathering because it’s a very small community. Everyone comes out, including Pauline’s family, to spend the whole afternoon chatting and drinking tea and coffee.

“Bakers donate cakes and people are very generous with raffle prizes and then with their financial contributions, too.

“It’s a real community event and it’s about keeping Pauline’s memory alive.

“She was so involved in the community and would host neighbour’s nights, where we’d gather at hers for a takeaway.

“It’s nice to remember Pauline because she always remembered everyone else.”

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 26 Hospice and specialist palliative home care providers supporting patients and their families.

Funds raised locally stay local and go back into each Hospice service to innovate, build new facilities, develop new services, and deliver quality improvements and extra benefits for their patients and their family members.

Register to host a coffee morning on September 21 – or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.

If you can not host or attend one, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate