Francis O'Neill of East Meath Hospice with Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain and Patrick Bewley at Bewley's Café for the launch of 'Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning'.

East Meath Hospice seeks support for coffee morning

'Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning' is fast approaching on September 16th and East Meath Hospice Association has appealed to people to dig deep this year to maintain their local hospice service. Now in its seventeenth year, Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning with Bewley's is an all-island fundraising event that raises vital funds each year for local hospice care services all over Ireland. Bewley's has sponsored the annual event each year since it began and provides all the coffee nationwide. The national target is to raise €2 million - that's over one million cups of Bewley's coffee. People in workplaces, homes and local organisations across Ireland are being asked to hold a coffee morning and to collect €2 for each cup of Bewley's fresh ground coffee consumed. All money raised locally stays locally and goes directly back to fund local Hospice care services. The East Meath Hospice Association has been in existence for 17 years. Along with a homecare team, it provides a driving service, to bring patients to and from hospitals. They also have a comfort fund which provides home help in a patient's home doing the cleaning and ironing. Between 20-30 patients were cared for last year. East Meath Hospice Association needs €40,000 to keep the service going. Joanne Murphy, chairperson of East Meath Hospice Association stated: "This difficult economic period has affected every community in Ireland. We appreciate that many individuals and families are facing worrying times. Our hospice service has also been hit by cutbacks and we are struggling to provide the current level of service. Any support will be welcome and is much needed. We would urge people to organise a coffee morning or to support an event that is already taking place in their neighbourhood." 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. Almost 30,000 people die annually in Ireland and over 6,000 people use hospice services every year. It is estimated that up to 13,000 patients will require access to hospice and specialist palliative care in 2016. International studies have shown that patients using hospice services consume at least 25 per cent fewer medical resources than those who access "usual care." This saving is linked to the fact that hospice patients are largely cared for and die at home and they use much less acute hospital services. Hospice patients also live longer and in greater comfort and dignity. 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 a special complimentary Bewley's fresh ground coffee pack can be obtained by contacting Bridie Kirwan on (041) 982 9161 or (087) 280 6419.