Thank you so much to all of our wonderful supporters for last year’s Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice. With your loyal support and each and every local donation given nationwide a total of €1.2 million was raised in 2021.

This would not have been possible without you all!

With this New Year ahead we are looking forward to celebrating the 30th year for Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice with you on Thursday September 22nd 2022.

A special thank you to Bewley’s, our national sponsor and partner for the past 30 year’s!

It’s that time of year again where we all come together in our local communities to host coffee mornings for our local hospice!

The past 18 months has been incredibly challenging for so many, and while we are all still managing the return to some kind of normality, there is hope on the horizon and we are thrilled to see so many people supporting this year’s event.

Hospices were faced with many challenges throughout 2020 and while the event was drastically impacted by Covid-19, we raised over €1million. This is an incredible testament to the dedication and support from communities in villages, towns and cities right across the country.

Where people could no longer host in their homes, they adapted to Drive through coffee mornings and take away events. Where people could not join together with work colleagues they hosted virtual coffee mornings online. People came together in gardens and parks, and when that wasn’t possible, they asked people to donate to their local hospice instead. The support for hospice care in local communities is incredible, and is such a huge part of why Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice has become an important event in the diary each year.

To those who have supported your local hospice year in year out, throughout the past 29 years – you have been a huge part of the over €40million that has been raised for hospices nationwide during this time, and we cannot thank you enough.

We wish you all the best for your coffee mornings again this year – Stay Safe!

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement.

Together for Hospice exists to support and enable these frontline services to fundraise collectively at a national level. Learn more about the work of Together for Hospice at www.togetherforhospice.ie 

We are delighted to announce an exclusive competition offering one lucky winner the opportunity to have Afternoon Tea for three people in Bewley’s Grafton Street.

This competition has been created to help raise awareness of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice which is celebrating its 29^th year while also creating opportunities for everyone to enjoy a coffee and nominate others to join in. Since its inception in 1992, this campaign has raised over €40 million for local hospices and specialist palliative homecare services nationwide. The vital funds raised have enabled local hospice groups to provide specialist, high quality and loving care to patients and their families, fund on-going facility enhancements as well as purchasing crucial equipment.

To enter the competition:

1. Text COFFEE to 50300  to donate €4 to the Hospice Coffee Morning, Or donate online at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate/ With every euro raised going towards local hospice and homecare services.

   Text costs €4. Hospice Coffee Morning Together with Bewley’s will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.

    

2. Once you’ve donated, share a picture of your donation and a picture of you enjoying your coffee on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Tag 2 friends in the post and don’t forget @bewleysireland and #MyCoffeeSocial. If you are posting to Twitter then it is fine to use just an image as long as your post includes the hashtag, tags @bewleysireland and nominates others to partake.

3. Closing date for the competition will be midnight 24^th September and winners will be contacted on the 25^th of September.  T&Cs apply. Competition open to ROI residents only.

This year due to COVID 19 restrictions, coffee morning hosts are encouraged to host socially distanced or virtual coffee mornings to ensure the safety of attendees and that government guidelines are adhered to. It is hoped that this year’s events, whether held in small groups in homes or virtually with colleagues and friends, will raise much-needed funds for hospices across Ireland, to meet growing demands for the services.

Please always remember to stay safe and adhere to the current HSE and Government COVID-19 guidelines. Please visit www.hse.ie to see the most up to date guidance.

#MyCoffeeSocial September 2021 Terms and Conditions:

Competition Close Date: Midnight September 24^th 2021

The following terms and conditions relate to the #MyCoffeeSocial Competition (the ‘Competition’) run by Together for Hospice and Bewley’s, the below terms are viewable on https://www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/ together the “Terms”. By entering the Competition, you accept and agree to be bound by the Terms:

• In order to enter the competition participants must Text* COFFEE to 50300 to donate €4 to the Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice and post a screen grab of their confirmation text/ coffee to their social account using the following hashtag; #MyCoffeeSocial and tagging @bewleysIreland.
• Texts cost €4. Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278
• Participants need to post the screen grab to Instagram/ Facebook/Twitter before midnight on 24^thSeptember 2021 and ensure their social profile is on public in order for the entry to be counted.
• All entries must be appropriate for public viewing and must not contain anything offensive, obscene or otherwise in breach of any applicable law or rights (including privacy, data protection or intellectual property rights). Please do not tweet anything that is disrespectful or that would otherwise bring Together for Hospice, Bewley’s or the Competition into disrepute. Please remember that your use of the social media site is governed by the social media site’s terms and conditions, privacy policy and other user policies. You are responsible at all times for your conduct on the social media platform, including the form and content of anything that you post. Together for Hospice or Bewley’s will not be liable to you for any loss you suffer as a result of your post/tweet or use of the social media platform. We reserve the right to inform the social media platform of any breach of its terms by a user. This Competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any social network platform.
• Together for Hospice or Bewley’s accepts no responsibility or liability for invalid entries or information relating to entries that are lost.
• The winner will be notified on 25^thof September. The winner of the prize will be the person who posted the screen grab on their social media. In the event the winner declines the prize or if, following reasonable efforts, we cannot make contact with the selected winner within 48 hours; we will award the prize to another winner.  
• The prize consists of a voucher for afternoon tea for 3 people in Bewley’s Grafton Street. The winner will be chosen using an online generator. The winner will be informed via direct message.
• You must be 18+ to enter the competition. Competition open to ROI residents only.
• You agree to co-operate with and comply with all reasonable requests of Together for Hospice and Bewley’s and its agents and employees in connection with the Competition.
• Entrants information will not be used for any communications or subsequent promotions by Together for Hospice, Bewley’s or agents and employee in connection with the competition.

In 2020, many hospices nationwide made the decision to host their Coffee Mornings a little different than previous years. North Louth Hospice held their annual coffee morning at Rampart Shopping Centre in Dundalk, but this year they decided to host it as a ‘Drive Thru’ event instead of their usual office/shop.

They served some hot Bewely’s Coffee and Tea to local shoppers and supporters as well as some freshly baked delicious treats and raffle tickets. Despite the heavy rain on the day and with the help of local businesses it a huge success, collecting more than previous years for their local hospice services.

Overall the support of the community during such a tough year, made the frontline work of the palliative care team accessible for anyone who is in need.  Dundalk and its surrounding areas are most generous towards hospice services and the fundraising committee of North Louth Hospice are grateful for their support and look forward to many more successful, alternative Coffee Mornings.

In a time when a little normality was needed the most, The North Westmeath Hospice went ahead with their annual hospice coffee morning. But instead of their usual office coffee morning, they rented a Coffee Cart called ‘Hot to Trot’ and sold teas, coffees and baked goods on their Market square for two days in September. Under the protection of a Gazebo, the North Westmeath Hospice fundraising committee were able to socially distance while creating a colourful display and raising much needed funds for their local palliative care team. The community of Mullingar and surrounding areas were very generous making 2020 one of their best Coffee Mornings to date.

 

This year our fundraising efforts faced many challenges in light of Covid-19, but so many of our dedicated hosts took this challenge head on! For example, Coffee morning 2020 in Kilcormac County Offaly took on a new look and life as it was moved from the home of Melissa Mulrooney to the town square.

Melissa has been hosting very successful and much anticipated hospice coffee mornings in her home for over 10 year with many of the same reliable supporters attending each year donating and adding to the very sociable and friendly atmosphere.  Not allowing anything to stand in the way of her fundraising efforts for Offaly Hospice Melissa moved her coffee morning to the Kilcormac town square out of necessity to comply with Covid-19 regulations.

If something positive is to come out of a negative well then this was it as Melissa’s coffee morning donations almost doubled from previous years.  Melissa said that she had people attend that would never have called to her home and that going forward she said  she will bring her coffee morning to the people instead of expecting the people to come to her coffee morning.

Melissa will be carefully watching the weather forecast for coffee morning 2021 and will host her coffee morning again this year in the Kilcormac town square either Saturday 18th or 25th September depending on the weather.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that two of our incredible Hospice Ambassadors, Francis Brennan and Domhnall Gleeson will be speaking on tonight’s Late Late Show in support of Hospice Coffee Morning Together with Bewley’s.

Hospice Coffee Morning Together with Bewley’s has been running in towns and villages all over Ireland for 28 years, raising over 39 million euro since inception. The campaign is co-ordinated by Together for Hospice which is made up of 26 Hospice and specialist palliative care providers nationwide.

It’s the biggest fundraising event of the year for hospice and specialist palliative care providers nationwide and it’s success is testament to local communities who have gotten behind their local hospice each and every year.

This year our fundraising efforts have been severely affected by COVID-19. While we are overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for the support of those who are in a position to host coffee mornings safely this year, we know that they cannot take place at the same scale that they would have previously.

This will have a devastating impact on our ability to raise the much needed €2 million that we would usually raise through this campaign. We need your support to urgently help us raise vital funds to support patients and families in your local area.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so here. 

The 26 hospices nationwide partnered with Together for hospice are listed here;

St. Christophers Hospice Homecare, Cavan, Marymount University Hospital & Hospice, Cork, The Friends of Youghal Hospice, Cork, Milford Care Centre, Limerick, Clare Hospice at Cahercalla, Clare, Donegal Hospice, Donegal, St. Francis Hospice, Dublin, Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services, Harolds Cross, Blackrock, Wicklow, Galway Hospice Foundation, Kerry Hospice Foundation, St Brigids Hospice and Homecare Service, Laois Hospice, Longford Hospice Homecare, North Louth Hospice and Homecare Foundation, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, Meath Hospice Homecare, East Meath Hospice Association, Offaly Hospice Foundation, North West Hospice, Sligo, North Tipperary Hospice Movement, South Tipperary Hospice Movement, Waterford Hospice Movement, North Westmeath Hospice, South Westmeath Hospice, Wexford Hospice Homecare.

 

It’s that time of year already as we are just days away from Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s! Looking back at what we achieved as a nation in 2018 is just astounding with over €1.8million raised across the country in local communities in support of local hospices. To say that we are blown away by the outpouring of good will is an understatement.

Suffice to say the funds raised in 2018 contributed significantly to the development of hospice services across Ireland, with hospice builds taking place in Wicklow, Mayo and a new unit due to open in Roscommon in 2020. We could not do this without fundraising and the incredible support of the people of Ireland. You can read a little more about these developments here and here.

This year we had an incredible array of Ambassadors with Maia Dunphy, Domhnall Gleeson, Hozier, Marian Finucane, Ian Dempsey and Clelia Murphy to name but a few who dedicated their time and energy to get involved in the campaign, even An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has made time in a Brexit busy diary to show his support.

Lastly, we simply must acknowledge the incredible 27 years sponsorship and support of Bewley’s who have helped us to grow the campaign each year and their dedication to hospice and local communities in Ireland is second to none.

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning is full steam ahead, to those of you who are new to us, and those who have signed up to host yet again, we’re delighted to have your support which will go a long way to help patients and families at a most difficult time in their lives. We hope you have a wonderful coffee morning together with your friends, family and colleagues. Your support is going a long way!

In 2009 a committee was formed to fundraise for a Hospice building for Co Wicklow. Hard times were ahead with a recession, a change of Government plans and a battle to secure a site.

The Columban Sisters donated the land to the Wicklow Hospice at the very peaceful site Magheramore and a wonderful donor donated an incredible €1million and the fundraising began in earnest.

After 10 years of fundraising the Wicklow Hospice will open the doors by the end of 2019. A dream to become a reality for the people of Co. Wicklow.

The people of County Wicklow and beyond have fundraised tirelessly for this facility, they never gave up hope and constantly found new ways to keep the momentum going even when all they could see was a field.

The Wicklow Hospice will have 15 beds, with day care, respite care and a palliative care team to cater for patients who wish to stay in their home.

Campaigns such as Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s contribute significantly towards the development of these services and we could not do this work without the public’s incredible support.

It has been another wonderful year for Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice as we celebrate our 26^th year of the National event in partnership with our incredible sponsor Bewley’s. From long-time coffee morning hosts baking and brewing coffee in their kitchens, to new recruits bringing coffee morning parties to the office of a Thursday, by hosting a coffee morning you have brought joy to friends, family, colleagues and most importantly raised vital funds to support thousands of patients and their families in Hospice care across all corners of Ireland.

 

Each year we go from strength to strength, and this year was no exception. We had the absolute pleasure of meeting superstar actor and long term advocate of Hospice, Brendan Gleeson, at our Coffee morning launch…to say our staff and patients were star struck is an understatement!

 

Over at government buildings our very own Lucy Greene was served up a hot brew of Bewley’s coffee by none other than the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar himself…don’t mind if we do!

 

Members of the Connaught Rugby team alongside celebrities Danny O’Reilly, Keith Duffy and Ronan Keating all rallied around to create personalised video’s to promote Irelands Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s on Social Media, a huge help in getting us to that number one trending spot on twitter! Mario Rosenstock, Maia Dunphy and Clelia Murphy attended coffee mornings in their local hospices to spend time with our patients, staff and guests, and of course, sample the delicious baking!

 

Our absolutely phenomenal sponsor and long-time dedicated partner, Bewley’s, took part in their annual Staff Cycle covering over 500 kilometres, visiting 5 hospice sites  to raise funds. Now that is commitment!

 

Milford Hospice in Limerick, had a special visit on coffee morning from the members of the Limerick All Ireland Senior Hurling Team with the Liam MacCarthy cup in tow. Limerick City & County Mayor James Collins also made an appearance alongside comedian Brendan Grace. A very busy morning for the team in Milford!

 

We had a host in Meath who opened the doors of her home from early morning until late evening to accommodate all schedules, hosts from North Westmeath raised €900 from their small coffee morning by getting local transition year students involved, and two friends from Dublin who have hosted coffee morning together since it’s beginning – that’s 26 years of dedication!

 

To celebrate all of these amazing people, this was the first year of our Host the Host event, which was a rare opportunity for us to thank some of our most dedicated coffee morning hosts. With so many incredible contenders it was no easy task! As a huge thank you, Bewley’s treated our hosts to a complimentary breakfast in the most beautiful room in the Bewley’s café, followed by the awards ceremony. It was fantastic day spent in a room full of positive, kind, generous people who care deeply about hospice.

 

This is just a small snapshot of the support we have received from every corner of Ireland, there are so many people involved both as hosts and behind the scenes, organising, volunteering and getting stuck in and we could not do it without all of you.

 

It goes without saying that Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s is about community. It’s about all of us coming together to support one another, to spread positivity, share tears, coffee, laughter and cake! Coming together helps us, and it helps someone else at a very vulnerable time in their life.

 

To you, our wonderful community,

 

THANK YOU.

 

 

 

 

Coffee Mornings are in action all over Ireland this week! Our fantastic Ambassadors from the Connaught Rugby team will host a Coffee Morning in aid of Galway Hospice on Thursday 20th September.

We are so grateful for all your support, Thank You!

It’s time to Get Brewing as Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s Returns

Brendan Gleeson together with representatives of hospice and homecare services throughout the country has launched Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s. Returning for its 26^th year, they called on the people of Ireland to host a coffee morning on Thursday 20^th September to help raise vital funds for their local hospice and homecare service.

Since the first coffee morning 26 years ago over €35 million has been raised by people around Ireland. This year it is hoped that Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s will raise a much needed €2 million for local hospice and homecare services nationwide, to meet with growing demands for the service.

Ambassador Brendan Gleeson said,“I have seen first-hand the important work hospices do in local communities and have been personally touched by the vital work done in St. Francis Hospice. The money raised through Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s helps hospice and homecare services around Ireland give patients the best quality of life during illness. I urge people to host a coffee morning on Thursday 20^th September and continue to make a difference”.

Pat Quinlan, Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Group said, “The demands on hospice and homecare services around Ireland are growing each year. The money raised through Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s is crucial in ensuring that we continue to meet patients’ needs and support families. The success of the campaign over the last 26 years is thanks to the incredible supporters; our coffee morning hosts, guests, Ambassadors and our sponsor Bewley’s.”

John Cahill, Bewley’s CEO said “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s has raised over €35 million for local hospice and homecare services around the country and Bewley’s is proud to support the campaign each year. As a family business, community has always been at the heart of what we do and year on year we see how vital the work done by hospice and homecare services is to local communities. That’s why we’re asking everyone to join together with a cup of Bewley’s coffee on the 20^thSeptember.”

People can help to make a difference in someone’s life by hosting a coffee morning to help raise funds for their local hospice and homecare service. You can register here or by calling 1890 998 995. Hosts are provided with a Coffee Morning Pack containing Bewley’s coffee, posters and invitations free of charge. Remember, every cup counts!

The public can support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s on Thursday 20^th September 2018 by:

• Hosting a Coffee Morning
• Attending a Coffee Morning
• Texting COFFEE to 50300 to donate €4*

*Text costs €4. Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s will receive a minimum of €3.60. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.

 

 

Bewley’s have kindly put together a video of some of the highlights from Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s 2017. We hope you enjoy…

 

A stunning new inpatient unit in Kerry Hospice opened in September 2017. It has 15 single rooms, all ensuite, which lead onto a landscaped garden. This gorgeous new unit is supported by a full multidisciplinary team including physio, occupational therapists and complementary therapists. Take a minute and have a look at this incredible achievement.

It’s fantastic to see supporters all around the world taking part in Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning together with Bewley’s!

We’d like to say a big thanks to Kieran and the whole Leahy family from Curracloe in Wexford who held a coffee morning whilst on holidays in Nice in the south of France. It looks gorgeous on the terrace, such a stunning view, we hope you had a great time.

 

And we’d also like to say thanks to Eleanor Flew for hosting a coffee morning at none other than Everest Basecamp!!! We’re fairly certain there will never be a coffee morning held at higher altitude!

Also a enormous THANK YOU to globetrotter Evanne Cahill from Wicklow Hospice! Evanne not only hosted a coffee morning on top of one the world’s most famous new landmarks, The Shard In London, but she also held a coffee morning in New York City!!! Thanks so much Evanne, we hope you enjoyed the view!

If you’ll be away from home on September the 20th this year but would still like to get involved, just register today and we can help you organise your coffee morning, no matter where you are!

In September The Friends of St Brigid’s Hospice, in partnership with the HSE, will reopen their newly refurbished and extended Hospice unit on the Curragh. The Friends of St Brigid’s Hospice will now have a 13 bedded unit, a six bed increase on current facilities and also a day room. The cost of this project has been funded by their charity through donations received from the communities of Kildare & West Wicklow to the cost of €6 million. Congratulations and thanks to all involved.

 

 

 

 

It’s not every day that I fall head over heels in love with the subject of an article, but then again Rian, the therapy dog on the palliative care ward at Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, is no ordinary interviewee.

The Irish Times visited Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services in Harold’s Cross for their story on Rian, the therapy dog on the palliative care ward.

Find out more about what this amazing dog gets up to on his daily rounds:

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/hospice-care-the-best-man-for-the-job-is-a-dog-1.2793913

 

 

Some thought-provoking and kind words from Deirdre O’Sullivan, Galway Rose. Please have a listen and get involved if you can. Thank you.

 

Niamh Elwood, the 2017 Galway Rose, met with Coffee Morning hosts in the Hosting the Hosts event which brought together hosts who have given so much of their time towards organising Coffee Mornings in aid of Galway Hospice Foundation.

We’re delighted the campaign has won several awards over the last year.

As a long-term supporter of local hospice, Bewley’s and local hospices, transformed “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice”, resulting in its most successful year ever.

There was a full campaign rebrand, recruitment of high profile and committed ambassadors, and a renewed media relations and influencer outreach campaign — all of which yielded major improvements in overall awareness, extensive media coverage, strong public participation and, most importantly, an increase in funds raised. Years of continuous decline in donations were reversed to see a 22% increase in Coffee Morning registrations and a 26% increase in donations.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D. and Minister for Health Simon Harris T.D. joined in Harold’s Cross at the end of April for the official opening of our new specialist Palliative Care Unit, the most ambitious project in their 139-year history.

An Taoiseach said, “This redevelopment enables the Hospice to respond to the changing needs of the community and improve the environment where it provides the care for which it is renowned. Paying tribute to the dedication of our staff, Minister Harris commented, “The commitment, skills and expertise in this organisation are immense and it has tremendous potential to achieve even greater accomplishments in the future.”

Speaking about the seven years work that went in to this project, CEO Audrey Houlihan explained, “This is a real community effort to provide an essential service. From those who provided financial support to those who shared thoughts and ideas and volunteered their time, to our staff who brought this vision to life through their commitment to palliative care and patient needs. This modern facility will transform the quality of life for our patients and their families, as well as meeting the changing care needs of this, and future generations, something that has become crucially important with our ageing population.”

“I want to express our sincere thanks to our patients and families for their inspiration and courage, our staff for their dedication and all our supporters who made this possible. We are both humbled and enormously grateful to the public and donors whose donations funded 100% of the construction costs of the Unit. We would also like to thank the HSE for assisting in funding the furnishing and fit out of the building and for its ongoing and continued support. Our Founding Partners Massey Bros. Funeral Directors and Kilternan Cemetery Park have also both committed generously to the future of the Hospice, and for that we are very grateful. We were delighted that so many staff, volunteers and supporters were able to join us for this event and thank Rian for  proving the point that he is the most popular member of staff and stealing the show again!”

The Wicklow Hospice Foundation is delighted to announce that preparation works for the long-awaited 15-bed Hospice Facility at Magheramore are well underway.

The Contractors, Elliott Group, have been appointed and the first sod was turned in June.

Mr. Sean Dorgan, Chairman of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation, paid tribute to the people of Wicklow for their incredible generosity, which will bring the Wicklow Hospice facility to fruition by the 3rd quarter of 2019.

He said, “It is incredible that the community has independently raised a phenomenal €4,000,000 without which the project would never have come so far.”

The support of Minister Simon Harris, TD, leading to a further €1.25 million from the HSE, recently brought the total funds to €5.25 million allowing the charity to secure a bank loan for the balance to enable the works to get underway.

The Wicklow Hospice Foundation will not draw down the bank loan unless required and are truly grateful for the support of the local Wicklow community to date. They are confident that should they have to draw down on the bank loan, this on-going support and spirit of generosity in the community will enable them to repay the bank loan.

The Wicklow Hospice Foundation were delighted to have such a wonderful turnout at the official turning of the Sod on the 21st of June and will keep the public informed of the progress of the Wicklow Hospice, a dream to become a reality in the very near future.

The Wicklow Hospice Foundation is also delighted to announce that the new Hospice will be run by Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, who already have two sites; Harold’s Cross and Blackrock so when Wicklow Hospice opens all three will be “under the one umbrella.”

The day is finally here! It’s time to get the kettle on, get the cakes iced and gather with your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to enjoy a cup of Bewley’s coffee in support of your local hospice & homecare service.

Today we celebrate 25 years of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s – and having raised over €34,000,000 since our very first coffee morning. The incredible generosity of people like you, our supporters, has helped to ensure that hospice & homecare is available to those who need it. You have helped to make a difference in someone’s life.

Thank you to everyone who has hosted, attended, donated and supported us this year. A massive thank you for all that you have done to make this such an amazing year from all of the hospice & homecare services who you are supporting. We wish you a very happy Coffee Morning!

 

#Coffee4Hospice

It’s time to take a break, have a coffee and join in Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s today to help raise vital funds for local hospices & homecare services.

We are celebrating twenty-five years of coffee mornings, Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s will aim to raise a much needed €2 million for local hospice & homecare services nationwide to meet with growing demands for the service.

There are so many wonderful people who help to make today so special; our Coffee Morning Hosts, their guests, the staff, volunteers and patients of hospice & homecare services, our Ambassadors and our sponsor, Bewley’s. Some of Ireland’s most famous faces, including Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson, Boyzone star Keith Duffy, comedian Mario Rosenstock, Westlife star Markus Feehily, Clelia Murphy and Dr. Ciara Kelly, are asking people nationwide to support this important campaign by attending a local coffee morning.

Ambassador Brendan Gleeson said, “As someone who has seen first-hand the vital work hospices do in local communities it is an honour to support this campaign again this year. Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning For Hospice Together With Bewley’s is a cause close to my heart as I have been personally touched by the amazing work done in St. Francis Hospice. I urge people across Ireland to support the campaign and attend a local coffee morning this Thursday 14^th September.

Pat Quinlan, Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Groups said, “Each year, hospice and homecare services across Ireland are responding to growing demands for their services and endeavoring to do so to the highest standards. The nature of hospice care is such that we must be in a position at all times to be able to respond in an appropriate and timely manner so that patient needs are fully met and their families supported. The funds raised from Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s are crucial in order to ensure that our services meets these objectives on an ongoing basis and clearly without such support we could not provide the level of services that we do. The success of campaigns like this is thanks to the incredible supporters; our coffee morning hosts, guests, Ambassadors and our sponsor Bewley’s. We thank them for their unwavering commitment, support and partnership over the last 25 years.”

Mark Saunders, Brand Director with Bewley’s said “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is one of Ireland’s longest running charity campaigns which to date has raised a massive and vital €34 million for local hospice and homecare services all around the country. Bewley’s is proud to support the campaign once again this year as we have done for last 25 years. As an Irish family company originally founded on Quaker principles, community is very much at the heart of Bewley’s and each year we continue to see the importance of hospice and homecare services around Ireland and the real and meaningful difference the money raised makes to communities locally. With demand for specialist palliative care services rising each year we want this year’s coffee morning to be bigger and better than ever! That’s why we are asking everyone to come together on Thursday 14^th September and enjoy a cup of Bewley’s coffee while supporting your local hospice and homecare service.”

Thank you to everyone who has joined us to celebrate 25 years of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s – wishing you a very enjoyable time at your Coffee Morning!

Remember, every cup counts!

 

#Coffee4Hospice

Esther shares her experience of hospice care. Being able to provide hospice and homecare services is incredibly important for patients, their friends, families and loved ones.

“I couldn’t find words to express my gratitude for everything.”

By supporting Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s, you can help to ensure that hospice & homecare services are there for those who need them.

Thank you Esther for sharing your story.

https://www.facebook.com/olhospice/videos/10155703799040990/

#Coffee4Hospice

 

We are just a few days away from September 14th when thousands of people will gather together to support their local hospice and homecare service! So many people from across the country have helped to make a difference; Volunteers, Staff, Guests, Hosts, Patients and their loved ones.

Take a look at some of the highlights so far from the 25 year celebration of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s!

 

 #Coffee4Hospice

Marie Furey has been hosting Coffee Mornings in support of Galway Hospice Foundation for 5 years. The wonderful support of fantastic hosts like Marie helps to make such a difference in someone’s life.

“It doesn’t take a lot to make a cup of coffee and yet it means so much to everybody here in the hospice”

Thanks Marie for your support of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s!

https://www.facebook.com/galway.hospice/videos/806173249541171/

#Coffee4Hospice

In 2016 there were 3,358 coffee mornings that took place across the country with guests supporting their local hospice and homecare services for Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s. This year, we hope to have even more coffee mornings and even more guests so we can raise the vital funds needed for services in Ireland.

The list below is for coffee mornings which are open for anyone to attend on September 14th. It is a great opportunity to gather with friends, family and neighbours while enjoying a delicious cup of Bewley’s while supporting your local hospice service. Remember, every euro raised locally stays locally.

 

Dublin:

• St. Francis Hospice Blanchardstown, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• St. Francis Hospice Raheny, Station Road, Raheny, Dublin 5 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services Blackrock, Sweetman’s Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin from 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
• Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

 

Galway:

• Galway Hospice, Renmore, Co. Galway from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

 

Kildare:

• The Mill, Cellbridge, Co. Kildare from 09:30 AM – 1:00 PM

 

Limerick: 

• Milford Care Centre, Castletroy, Co. Limerick from 10:30 AM

 

Meath: 

• Laytown Bettystown Golf Club, Co. Meath from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Limekiln gastro Pub, Julianstown, Co. Meath from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Whytes Bar & Restaurant, Stamullen, Co. Meath from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Parish Rooms, Bellewstown, Co. Meath from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

 

Waterford:

• The Majestic Hotel, Tramore from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• The Tower Hotel, Waterford from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Ferrybank Community Centre from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Kill Community Centre from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Kilmacow Community Centre from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Fitzwilton Hotel from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Mulligans Pharmacy, Barronstrand St from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s Pharmacy, City Square from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Supervalu Shopping Centre from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Lisduggan Shopping Centre from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Cedar House from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Rockshire Road from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, 31 Ballybricken from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Summerhill Shopping Centre from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Dock Road from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Tesco Ardkeen from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Tesco Ballybeg from 10:00 AM
• Mulligan’s, Main Street from 10:00 AM
• The Strand Inn, Dunmore East from 10:00 AM

Westmeath:

• North Westmeath Hospice CLG, Mary Street, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

 

Wexford: 

• Community Training & Education Centre (CTEC), Norsegate House, Wexford from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
• Killeen’s Service Station, Wexford from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Clonard Community Centre, Wexford from 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• The Forge, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• The Sycamore Inn, Killurin, Co. Wexford from 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
• Kilrane Rosslare ICA & Active Retirement Group, Hotel Rosslare, Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club, Wexford from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Joan Flaherty reminds us of the importance of supporting Hospice services. Hospice and homecare services are there for us when we need them and through by hosting or attending a Coffee Morning, you can help keep the vital services available. 

https://www.facebook.com/galway.hospice/videos/806166966208466/

 

Sadly, since the filming of this video, Tommie Flaherty passed away. Galway Hospice would like to extend sincere sympathies to Joan and family. May he rest in peace.

Palliative Care Week 2017 takes place from September 3rd to 9th. The focus for Palliative Care Week 2017 is to raise awareness about the difference that palliative care can make to the lives of patients, families and carers.

There were a series of videos produced which outline the experiences of those who have engaged with palliative care and the difference that it made. You can click here to watch the videos.

There has also been research published during Palliative Care Week which found that ‘four out of five people think palliative care can only be provided by specialist palliative care teams’. It also found that ‘almost one third of people think palliative care is only available in a hospice or hospital’.

Speaking about Palliative Care Week, Karen Charnley of the AIIHPC said: “Our aim for Palliative Care Week is to encourage people to think about their understanding of palliative care and to encourage them not to be afraid to ask their GP or any other healthcare professional if palliative care could help them or someone they love. People tend to associate palliative care being for people with advanced cancer but it’s equally important if you’re living with advanced heart or lung disease, kidney failure and other conditions such as motor neurone disease or dementia.”

Jim Daly T.D., Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, is supporting Palliative Care Week. Minister Daly said: “I was delighted to hear about Palliative Care Week and the work of AIIHPC during a visit to Marymount University Hospital & Hospice, Cork. It is important for people to be aware of the support that is available to make the most of life when they have a live-limiting illness. Through our National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care, and by supporting Palliative Care Week, our aim is to increase awareness and understanding of palliative care, and support those who need this care.”

We hope that Palliative Care Week 2017 is a great success and helps to raise awareness about the difference that palliative care can make to the life of patients, their loved ones and carers.

Galway Rose and Ambassador for Galway Hospice, Niamh Elwood offers her support for “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s”

Niamh is a fantastic support of the Galway Hospice, cherishing the time she spends visiting with patients and staff in Galway Hospice. Niamh calls on you to help support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s by hosting or attending a Coffee Morning on September 14th, 2017.

Watch the lovely video below for more

https://www.facebook.com/galway.hospice/videos/806165746208588/

#Coffee4Hospice

As is now tradition the newly crowned Rose Of Tralee, Jennifer Byrne, launched Kerry Hospice foundation’s Coffee Morning on August 25th, 2017.

Jennifer joined Kerry Hospice Foundation to launch their celebration of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s.

Did you know that you can buy a fresh ground bag of Hospice Coffee Morning Blend coffee – and the profits will help hospice & homecare services across Ireland?

This year, we are celebrating 25 years of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice so our proud sponsor, Bewley’s, wanted to make something extra special!

The special edition coffee is available to buy in many of the hospice & homecare services around the country – with all of the proceeds going directly to that hospice & homecare service. You can also buy Hospice Coffee Morning Blend in Tesco, Dunnes Stores and SuperValu stores around the country with all profits going to hospice & homecare services in Ireland.

Pick up a bag of Hospice Coffee Morning Blend – it tastes amazing and helps to raise funds for hospice & homecare services.

#Coffee4Hospice

A massive thank you to everyone who turned out in force to support their local hospice today. And to all the bakers out there who supplied mouth-watering treats. To every volunteer who kindly gave their time to enhance hospice services in  your area – it would not have been a success without you!

Heartfelt gratitude to our many Hospice Ambassadors who attended hospices nationwide and helped raise awareness of the campaign.

It’s not too late to help, you can still donate by texting to the below:

 

Today is an important day for your local hospice as they hold coffee mornings near you. Every euro raised locally stays locally so share a cuppa with your friends and help your hospice. Every cup counts!

If you can’t attend a coffee morning you can donate at the below number.

To reiterate the words of our hospice Ambassador Brendan Gleeson on RTE Radio 1 Saturday: “It reawakened my faith in humanity. It’s magical the way death is embraced as a part of life. The hospice just embraces death in that way and gives people the finest death possible. And the gift that they allow the people around, families – there’s a beauty about it that is exquisite.

“My mother and my father both ended their lives there [in St Francis Hospice, Raheny] and I’m so grateful for that. I don’t know how to express it properly how a good death is so life-affirming. It’s incredible the gift that it is,” said Brendan.

You can follow all the action today at #Coffee4Hospice or @Coffee4Hospice. Best of luck to every group or individual holding a coffee morning today and thank you to everyone who kindly supports Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice. Your help will make a big difference to the lives of many.

 

Our Ambassador Brendan Gleeson delivered a second powerful interview today when he spoke about hospice care on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show. The renowned Irish actor was also interviewed by Marian Finucane on Saturday where he encouraged people to support their local hospice this Thursday.

Brendan spoke of how his parents were cared for in St Francis Hospice: “Their spirits were looked after, their morale was looked after. There was so much humanity in it.

You have to say goodbye at some stage and I came away feeling nothing more could have been done. Humans can be the most magnificent of life forms. It’s not easy to remember that when you hear of all the horror out there and then you go to St Francis or other hospices all across the country where people volunteer and help people in dire distress. All the beauty of these relationships happen in the hospice before the person is allowed to move gently on.

It’s the most amazing thing and was a total eye opener for me. Anything I can do to push the message of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning out I will do. Find a coffee morning near you. Have a cup of coffee together on Thursday and help hospice, take an hour or two to stop and help. It makes the world a better place.”

Thank you to Brendan and all Ambassadors who are supporting Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice this Thursday. If you want to host a coffee morning please go to our register page where details are available.

Our Ambassador and renowned Irish actor Brendan Gleeson gave a powerful interview on Marian Finucane’s RTE Radio 1 show on Saturday about the touching difference hospice care has made in his life.

Speaking to Marian, Brendan said: “It reawakened my faith in humanity. It’s magical the way death is embraced as a part of life. The hospice just embraces death in that way and gives people the finest death possible. And the gift that they allow the people around, families – there’s a beauty about it that is exquisite.

“My mother and my father both ended their lives there [in St Francis Hospice, Raheny] and I’m so grateful for that. I don’t know how to express it properly how a good death is so life-affirming. It’s incredible the gift that it is,” said Brendan.

The Irish actor also praised hospice staff nationwide for the life-changing help they give to patients and their loved ones.

To listen back go to http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=9_21051691_70_10-09-2016

Brendan will also be on Pat Kenny’s show tomorrow morning [13th] at 11.15am. Thank you to Brendan and all Ambassadors who are supporting Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice this Thursday. If you want to host a coffee morning please go to our register page where details are available.

A short message from our beautiful friend, Maureen Allman, who passed away on 15th March of this year. Maureen was an advocate of Galway Hospice who worked tirelessly to help raise awareness of and funds for the Foundation. She touched every person she met with her wicked sense of humour and infectious laugh. Thank you Maureen Allman, our lovely friend.

#Coffee4Hospice

 

 

 

The six staff members of the Bewley’s cycling team set out early Saturday morning from Bewley’s headquarters in Northern Cross. They took a spin by City Quay to see the newly-erected Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning banner which will raise great awareness of the campaign.  Next stop was OLH Harold’s cross where the team met with Eleanor, Philip and all the amazing staff for some much needed hot tea, coffee and goodies.

After that, the cycling team headed out of the city on the road to Limerick. 210km later they pulled into the Maldron Hotel Limerick for some dry clothes and well-deserved rest. Sunday morning, the cyclists were up early to meet Pat, Cathy and the team at Milford Hospice Limerick. They were impressed to hear of their plan to increase hospice care beds for the mid-west region by the end of 2017 with the building of a new wing.

The Bewley’s team were on the road again to Cahercalla Hospice. There they presented Mary of Cahercalla Hospice, Clare with a cheque for €1,000.  The Bewley’s team were highly impressed with the passion, kindness and care the staff of Cahercalla provide for the people of Clare.  Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is Cahercalla’s biggest fundraiser for the year so please support them on Thursday 15th Sept.

This morning, the team visited Galway Hospice after a stop off at Galway Bay FM. The cyclists were delighted to see that, since they last visited them in September 2015, the Hospice had added a 6 bed extension to their facilities.  Lending their support to Michael, Mary and all the Galway hospice staff were both the Connacht rugby team and Rosie Burke, the Galway Rose.

The Bewley’s team are currently on the road to Carrick on Shannon and tomorrow they’ll be en route to St. Francis Hospice, Raheny to finish their journey with Dee and the team there. They’re tracking their journey on Twitter with #coffee4hospice

The newly crowned 2016 Rose of Tralee Maggie McEldowney launched Kerry Hospice Foundation’s Coffee Morning this week following another great festival in in Tralee. The 27-year-old Chicago native works as director of development at Marist High School and her grandmother, Brigid O’Neill, was born in Maghera, Co Derry. The local hospice group was delighted to again have the winner launch their annual fundraiser to raise funds local hospice services in Kerry.

Kerry Hospice Foundation is currently funding the building of an inpatient unit consisting of 15 beds costing €6.2million and has given a commitment to donate €400 towards the running of the unit for five years. Their Home Care Nurses attended to 541 patients in 2015, making 4,593 visits to their homes. 242 patients attended the Palliative Care Unit, making 1815 visits. The cost of the home care service for 2015 was €76,733. All support for coffee mornings is appreciated by the hospice group .

Pictured in Tralee Town Park with Chicago Rose Maggie McEldowney are Dan Galvin, Vice Chair Kerry Hospice Foundation, Mary Shanahan, Secretary, Ted Moynihan, Chair Kerry Hospice Foundation and Mairead Fernane

North Westmeath Hospice is delighted and appreciative to have Playwright Michael Harding on board

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is a major highlight of the year for North Westmeath Hospice raising important funds and this year they welcomed ambassador Michael Harding on board. Michael is a renowned writer, novelist and playwright and a strong advocate of hospice care.

 

Speaking about hospice, Michael said: “To live life to the full, in every breath, to the last moment, and to be held with love by family and friends is every human beings wish. Hospice Ireland has been facilitating that for many years, and I know of no other organisation that so well deserves our help and support.”

 

Pictured is Carmel Kerrigan and Mona LyngNorth of North Westmeath Hospice Fundraising Committee with Michael Harding, novelist and playwright

Mario Rosenstock and Davy Fitzgerald were on hand for this year’s launch in Our Lady’s Hospice and Home Care creating much excitement in the run up to the nationwide event taking place on Thursday 15^thSeptember.

That’s the day when people everywhere will share a cup of Bewley’s coffee to support their local hospice and their vital work caring for people in their local communities nationwide. Friday’s launch received much national media coverage helping to boost this year’s event.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/davy-spills-the-coffee-beans-on-truth-behind-marios-skit-34980626.html

http://www.fft.ie/mario-rosenstock-teams-up-with-irelands-biggest-coffee-morning/13092 

Host a coffee morning or share a cup of Bewley’s #coffee4hospice

6,508 people passed away with the support of local hospice services in 2015

Mario Rosenstock is calling on everyone to get on board for Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s on Thursday 15^th September. That’s the day when people everywhere will share a cup of Bewley’s coffee to support their local hospice and their vital work caring for people in their local communities nationwide.

Mario and other well-known personalities are backing the Hospice campaign including Davy Fitzgerald, Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson, Imelda May, Gabriel Byrne, Baz and Nancy Ashmawy and Eamonn Coughlan

It’s really easy to take part.  Register at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie to get your free Bewley’s fresh ground coffee pack. You can also contact your local hospice by calling 1890 717 000.  Or go along to any nearby coffee morning for your local hospice.

This year is Ireland’s 24^th Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice since the major annual fundraiser first started in 1993 with some €32m raised to date. Bewley’s provides all the coffee free of charge nationwide and all money raised locally goes directly to local hospice care services.

Mario Rosenstock said, “I’ve been delighted to be involved with the hospice for a few years now and in that time I’ve seen at first-hand the work they do and the care they give. I’ve always found it an uplifting experience meeting the patients and residents. Each and every hospice patient is treated with wonderful kindness and dignity at such a vulnerable time.

“To continue giving this care, hospice services across the country need vital funds and Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is the one day when everyone can get involved and help them to do just that. Whether you host a coffee morning of your own or visit a local coffee morning to enjoy a Bewley’s coffee, your support is key as every cup counts”.

Every year over 29,000 people die across Ireland and over one fifth of these people are supported by their local hospice either in an IPU setting (in patient unit) or via a Home Care team. Last year, 6,508 people passed away with the support of their local hospice. Local hospice services include specialist palliative care, residential care and end-of-life care. Money raised from Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice will go towards essential services such as homecare nurses, new equipment and development of new hospice care facilities.

Pat Quinlan, Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Groups said, “There is continuing pressure on already strained hospice services. The number of patients being admitted to hospice facilities is increasing and the demand for homecare services is also on the rise.

“Each local hospice across the country has a crucial role to play in caring for the people in their community but they face serious funding shortages. Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s has been raising much needed funds for the hospice movement for 24 years. We want to thank people for their generosity and urge them once again to get behind this year’s campaign.”

Mark Saunders, Brand Director with Bewley’s said “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is an incredibly important and vital campaign that Bewley’s has been very proud to support as sole sponsor since our very first cup of coffee was poured for Hospice over two decades ago.  This unique bond has gone from strength to strength with over €32 million raised for hospice care nationwide to date, that’s over 16 million cups of coffee.  But we need many more cups of coffee to be brewed for Hospice so we are asking everybody to come together On Thursday 15^th September, have a cup of Bewley’s coffee and raise much needed funds for this vital cause.”

To host a cost morning, register at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie to receive your free coffee pack of Bewley’s fresh ground coffee. You can also contact your local hospice by calling 1890 717 000.

ENDS

The Bewley’s family were Quakers and Bewley’s is built on the Quaker values of community, equality, honesty, fairness and integrity of character. Some 175 years on from our founding in 1840, this philosophy remains one of our guiding principles. Our sense of responsibility extends further than coffee farms and tea gardens. We believe in being ethical and responsible in everything we do and we get involved because we believe we can make a difference to the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves.

This belief has stayed with us right the way through our journey. From the 1940s when Bewley’s helped to feed hundreds of hungry children on the streets of Dublin to supporting today’s Fairtrade farming initiatives across the globe, Bewley’s has always believed in ‘good’ business.

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is synonymous with Bewley’s and Bewley’s is synonymous with Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice; the two go hand in hand. It’s a cause and campaign that Bewley’s has been privileged to lend its support as sole sponsor to for the past 24 years. The community is at the heart of Bewley’s and caring for people in the local community is what hospice services are all about. Our connection to the hospice is a perfect fit with the ethos of our company.

This bond has gone from strength to strength over the last two decades and we’re proud to say that we’ve helped to raise over €32 million for hospice care nationwide, that’s 16 million cups of coffee.

The first coffee morning took place in 1993 and since then considerable progress has been made, progress that may not have been possible without the crucial funds raised through Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice. But hospice services remain in desperate need of funding and in some areas of the country there remains a lack of available services.

On Thursday 15th September 2016, we are once again asking people to come together and show your community spirit by hosting a coffee morning for your local hospice service. And if you can’t host one, then be sure to join one and share a cup of coffee for the cause because all monies raised locally, stay locally.

Every cup counts!

My wife Nora passed away from cancer on the 13th December 2015.

Thankfully for Nora, sadly not for the people she left behind, her suffering wasn’t too long, it was just over 6 weeks from diagnosis to her leaving us. In that time Nora should have been able to avail of Hospice Care, but there was no Hospice in Co Wicklow.

Nora lived in Aughrim Co Wicklow and her closest Hospice was Blackrock, which was not able to accommodate her at the time as the patients from the catchment area get first preference.

Nora spent her final days in St Vincents Public Hospital where she did receive the best of care but for Nora, her husband, two girls, Mum and close family it was not the care that Nora or any other cancer sufferer should have as Public Hospitals are able to give the end of life care that Hospice can offer.

The Wicklow Hospice Foundation is fundraising to build a 15 bed Hospice with a palliative care team attached for the people of Co Wicklow and North Wexford.

Please support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning which raises much needed funds for Hospice Care all over Ireland.

For more information on how you can get involved please contact Evanne, Chairperson of Fundraising on 0862485805 evanne@wicklowhospice.ie or Sinead, Administrator on 040291310 sinead@wicklowhospice.ie.

Host a coffee morning or share a cup of Bewley’s #coffee4hospice

6,508 people passed away with the support of local hospice services in 2015

Mario Rosenstock is calling on everyone to get on board for Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s on Thursday 15^th September. That’s the day when people everywhere will share a cup of Bewley’s coffee to support their local hospice and their vital work caring for people in their local communities nationwide.

Mario and other well-known personalities are backing the Hospice campaign including Davy Fitzgerald, Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson, Imelda May, Gabriel Byrne, Baz and Nancy Ashmawy and Eamonn Coughlan

It’s really easy to take part.  Register at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie to get your free Bewley’s fresh ground coffee pack. You can also contact your local hospice by calling 1890 717 000.  Or go along to any nearby coffee morning for your local hospice.

This year is Ireland’s 24^th Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice since the major annual fundraiser first started in 1993 with some €32m raised to date. Bewley’s provides all the coffee free of charge nationwide and all money raised locally goes directly to local hospice care services.

Mario Rosenstock said, “I’ve been delighted to be involved with the hospice for a few years now and in that time I’ve seen at first-hand the work they do and the care they give. I’ve always found it an uplifting experience meeting the patients and residents. Each and every hospice patient is treated with wonderful kindness and dignity at such a vulnerable time.

“To continue giving this care, hospice services across the country need vital funds and Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is the one day when everyone can get involved and help them to do just that. Whether you host a coffee morning of your own or visit a local coffee morning to enjoy a Bewley’s coffee, your support is key as every cup counts”.

Every year over 29,000 people die across Ireland and over one fifth of these people are supported by their local hospice either in an IPU setting (in patient unit) or via a Home Care team. Last year, 6,508 people passed away with the support of their local hospice. Local hospice services include specialist palliative care, residential care and end-of-life care. Money raised from Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice will go towards essential services such as homecare nurses, new equipment and development of new hospice care facilities.

Pat Quinlan, Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Groups said, “There is continuing pressure on already strained hospice services. The number of patients being admitted to hospice facilities is increasing and the demand for homecare services is also on the rise.

“Each local hospice across the country has a crucial role to play in caring for the people in their community but they face serious funding shortages. Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice together with Bewley’s has been raising much needed funds for the hospice movement for 24 years. We want to thank people for their generosity and urge them once again to get behind this year’s campaign.”

Mark Saunders, Brand Director with Bewley’s said “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is an incredibly important and vital campaign that Bewley’s has been very proud to support as sole sponsor since our very first cup of coffee was poured for Hospice over two decades ago.  This unique bond has gone from strength to strength with over €32 million raised for hospice care nationwide to date, that’s over 16 million cups of coffee.  But we need many more cups of coffee to be brewed for Hospice so we are asking everybody to come together On Thursday 15^th September, have a cup of Bewley’s coffee and raise much needed funds for this vital cause.”

To host a cost morning, register at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie to receive your free coffee pack of Bewley’s fresh ground coffee. You can also contact your local hospice by calling 1890 717 000.

ENDS