Your cuppa can help Galway Hospice

THE VITAL services being provided by Galway Hospice need local support, and people all over the county will do their bit on Thursday Sept 15, simply by enjoying a cup of coffee. For 18 years now, Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning has been raising money for hospice. [private] Like other areas of the health service, the hospice continues to be affected by State budgetary cutbacks, and local fundraising has become more essential than ever. The coffee morning is once again being sponsored by Bewley's which has supported it since it began in 1993. The national target is to raise €2 million â€â€ that's over a million cups of Bewley's coffee. People in workplaces, homes and local organisations are being asked to hold a coffee morning and to collect €2 for each cup of Bewley's fresh coffee consumed. Complimentary Bewley's fresh coffee packs will be provided to all hosts. All money raised locally stays local and goes directly back to fund local hospice care services. Galway Hospice has been providing services to the people of Galway since 1990. Their specialist in-patient, home care and day care services remain hugely in demand. In 2010, 217 patients received in-patient hospice care, there were 1,086 attendances by patients to the Hospice Day Care Centre, and 431 Home Care patients received a total of 5,354 specialist 'hospice at home' visits during the year. Currently, the HSE fund the Galway Hospice in-patient services only. Galway Hospice Home Care and Day Care services do not receive any State funding. Each year, Galway Hospice must raise in the region of €1.5 million in order to continue providing these services. Sean O'Healy, Chief Executive of Galway Hospice, emphasised the importance of Coffee Morning. 'We are very dependent on the funds raised. Community support is the backbone of our local service and is absolutely essential. Without public support and contributions, the hospice service would struggle to deliver the care, comfort and dignity that patients need at the most vulnerable time in their lives.' 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 hospice and specialist palliative care in 2011. Patrick Bewley of long term sponsor Bewley's said: 'We're delighted to once again be involved with Ireland's Biggest Coffee Morning, celebrating its 18th year in 2011. As in previous years, over a million cups of Bewley's coffee will be served. We want as many people as possible to take part all over Ireland. We will provide Bewley's fresh ground coffee free of charge to all coffee morning hosts. The more cups of coffee that we can give away, the greater the benefit that will be achieved.' Registration advice and details on how to get your special complimentary Bewley's fresh ground coffee pack can be obtained by contacting the Fundraising Team at Galway Hospice on 091-770868, or email fundraising@galwayhospice.ie.[/private]