Children’s hospice marks anniversary

IRELAND’S Children’s Hospice marked its fifth birthday with a series of special events for families, volunteers and donors at LauraLynn House in Leopardstown last week.

The charity, the only dedicated children’s hospice in the State, provides clinical care, healthcare support and palliative care services to children with exceptional and life limiting conditions, and their families.

Since opening in September 2011, more than 300 children and their families have availed of LauraLynn’s services.

 Speaking on the fifth anniversary, Chief Executive of LauraLynn, Sharon Morrow said: “Today is a day for reflection and gratitude, to the pioneers of the hospice movement in Ireland, people like Jane and Brendan McKenna and our dedicated staff, and to the many volunteers and supporters who have so far helped raise €14 million which goes towards our goal of ensuring that Irish children who require hospice care, can receive it.”

Over the last five years, LauraLynn has provided 265,000 hours of short stay care to children, while 442 family members have attended bereavement events since the hospice opened in 2011.

In 2014 LauraLynn launched a hospice-at-home programme which has enabled it to expand its services to many more families – there are estimated to be 3,840 children and young people with life-limiting conditions in Ireland today. 

In 2015 alone LauraLynn@home undertook 1,635 home visits.

Over the last five years, supporters of LauraLynn have run 50,150,000 steps in the Women’s Mini Marathon – that’s the equivalent of more than two trips around the world; Skydived 540,000ft – equivalent of the distance from Dublin to Waterford and donated 504 inches of their hair through the Rapunzel Foundation.

 A total of 125 happy couples have asked their wedding guest to donate to LauraLynn instead of giving gifts and 12 per cent of schools across the country have raised funds for the charity.

LauraLynn hospice focuses on making the most of short and precious lives and celebrating and creating memories to last a lifetime. 

LauraLynn opened in September 2011. Through its hospice facility in Leopardstown and the LauraLynn@home programme, it provides a range of services, including symptom management for children; music and play therapy; psychological support; family and sibling camps; short breaks and end of life care. 

 It provides vital bereavement supports to families and undertakes research into the relatively new area of children’s palliative care.

 It costs €5.1 million to keep LauraLynn’s Children’s Hospice open, €3.5 million of which is generated through fundraising.