Big coffee morning for hospice next week

TV and radio broadcaster Claire Byrne issued an appeal for people across Meath to get involved in Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2015 on Thursday 17th September and enjoy a Bewley’s coffee to raise vital funds for hospice services across the country.

A recent Irish Hospice Foundation survey reveals that three quarters of Irish people want to die at home - but the stark reality is that only one quarter will get to do so mainly due to lack of hospice services and a serious funding crisis.

Supported by Bewley’s, Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, now in its 23rd year, is one of the biggest annual fundraising initiatives for local hospices.

Claire Byrne said: “I am delighted to be supporting Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning this year. I was humbled recently to experience at first hand the work and dedication of staff at St Francis Hospice in Raheny and to hear of the amazing work that is being done by hundreds of volunteers in local hospice groups all over Ireland. I would urge people across the country to get behind Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning by organising an event for their local hospice group or supporting one on the day.”

Bridie Kirwin, spokesperson for East Meath Hospice Association said, “East Meath Hospice Assocation provides a door-to-door voluntary driver service to bring people to and from Dublin and Drogheda Hospitals for chemotherapy and radiotherapy appointments and treatments. We also provide funds for special needs and requirements to people in the community with a diagnosis of cancer. Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning is so important in helping us raise the vital funds we need to provide our services.”

Helena Kelly, chairperson for Meath Hospice Homecare said, “Meath Hospice Homecare provides palliative care to patients who have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness and provide funding for those patients who have to travel for treatment. As well as that, we also contribute towards the cost of specialist equipment in the home and financial aid where requested by the Palliative Care Social worker. Money raised is used to support our services and also we would envisage the need for drop in cancer centres in the county and we would hope to be in a position to provide funding for this service.”

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, has become an institution since it first started brewing 23 years ago. Over 16 million cups of Bewley’s coffee have been enjoyed and an estimated €32 million raised for hospice care nationwide in this period.

The continuing success of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning has been boosted by the development of a thriving coffee culture, with the country going crazy for a good brew. On Thursday 17th September, 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 coffee drank.

All money raised locally at #coffee4hospice events stays locally and goes directly back to fund local Hospice care services. Hospice or palliative care is for 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. Money raised on September 17th will go towards supporting the many hospice home care teams countrywide.

Money raised through Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning does make a difference. For example in 2014:

Across Ireland, an average of 3,204 people accessed community specialist palliative care services every month. 23% of these were new patients, 7% above target and a 2% increase on 2013.Nationwide, an average of 740 new patients every month received specialist palliative care in the community, a 1% increase on 2013.

Pat Quinlan, CEO of Milford Care Centre, Limerick and Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Groups, said at today’s launch: “Ireland’s local hospice services are facing a serious funding crisis as demands for palliative care increase due to our growing aging population. Every hospice service around the country is reporting major funding challenges with services stretched to the limit and hospice services more reliant than ever on the generosity of the public in order to continue with their work.”

Mark Saunders, Bewley’s Brand Director said “we are extremely proud of our long-standing support of Ireland Biggest Coffee Morning, now in its 23rd year. Hospice care is about ensuring the best possible quality of life for people throughout our communities and for a company that was originally a Quaker company, these community based values continue play a very important role in Bewley’s today. Every cup of our coffee consumed on behalf of Hospice on the 17th September will contribute to ensuring families receive the best care and support possible at end of life and we want as many people as possible to take part all over Ireland. We provide Bewley’s fresh ground coffee free of charge to all coffee morning hosts. The more cups of Bewley’s coffee that people enjoy the greater the benefit that will be achieved for hospices and communities all over Ireland.”

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 the Irish Hospice Foundation on (01) 679 3188. People can also register to host a coffee morning on www.Irelandsbiggestcoffeemorning.ie