Coffee mornings pour funds into Laois Hospice
Ger and Seamus Mulhall of Mulhall's SuperValu in Portlaoise present Laois Hospice Foundation with a supply of sponsored coffee for national Coffee Morning for Hospice. Also pictured are Aaron Archbold (store manager) with Irene Murray and Mary Delaney of Laois Hospice. Photo: Michael Scully
COFFEE mornings have raised thousands of euro for Laois Hospice, with donations still pouring in from across the county.
Generous proceeds included over €1,800 from Gortnalee Gardens near Donaghmore and €700 from the Fruit ‘N Nut Health Store on Lyster Square, Portlaoise, while Mulhall’s Supervalu sponsored the supply of coffee for all hospice events throughout Laois.
The annual national Coffee Morning for Hospice day, which has been running for more than three decades, was held on or around 24 September this year in a variety of venues that included community centres, schools, gardens, offices and retail outlets.
Countless successful local fundraisers included a coffee morning in memory of much-loved Portlaoise woman Annette Lawlor, which raised nearly €4,000. The packed event held at Portlaoise Family Resource Centre (PFRC) in Treo Nua, Knockmay on Friday, 25 September celebrated what would have been Annette’s 70th birthday.
Sadly, Annette passed away on 6 August at her home in Oakleaf Place, just weeks before her birthday celebration. Her family thoughtfully organised a coffee morning in her memory to raise funds for Laois Hospice, which cared for her so well during her illness.
Every cent raised by all local coffee mornings goes directly to Laois Hospice, which provides vital care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Thanking everyone involved, Laois Hospice Foundation chairperson Mary Delaney said: “This support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, greatly improving care for patients with life-limiting illness.
“People who hosted a coffee morning, attended a relative or friend’s event or donated can be confident that it will make a huge difference to funded hospice homecare services in Laois.”
One of Ireland’s biggest fundraisers, the event has raised €48.8 million for hospice care nationally since 1992. People have hosted coffee mornings, afternoons and evenings throughout Laois over the past few weeks and fundraising is still ongoing.
Ms Delaney said: “This year, we in Laois Hospice are very grateful to Mulhall’s Supervalu on Lyster Square, Portlaoise, who have very generously sponsored the supply of coffee this year for all coffee events throughout Laois. This is indeed very much appreciated and valued.
“We would also like to thank most sincerely all who hosted coffee mornings or are planning to host one and all who donated to a coffee morning throughout Laois. This is very deeply appreciated.”
People can still make donations online at hospicecoffeemorning.ie.
