Dymphna Bracken, Hooves for Hospice, Westmeath footballer John Heslin; Pat Lalor, chairman, Hooves 4 Hospice; Matt Dillon; Christy Maye, Hooves for Hospice; Pat Minnock, Hooves for Hospice; and Niall McGauran, Lely Centre, Mullingar. (See story below.)

€20 million announced for hospice in midlands

Funding of €20 million has been announced for a hospice in the midlands.

A 20-bed facility is to be built at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

Des O’Flynn, chief officer of the HSE Midlands Louth Meath, welcomed the news.

In a statement today, he said: “This decision is welcomed and represents one of the most significant investments in health care in the midlands for many years. It’s the culmination of many years of work and advocacy by many local organisations, and groups and staff within the HSE.

“We’d like to thank the Department of Health and the government for making this announcement.

“We’d also like to thank the hospice groups in the midlands, namely North Westmeath Hospice, South Westmeath Hospice, Longford Hospice, Laois Hospice, Offaly Hospice and all their volunteers who have raised funds for various palliative care initiatives throughout many years – including the new hospice.

“In addition, to the above groups, we would like to thank Hooves-4-Hospice, the midlands group established by the Lions Clubs in the area who have fundraised specifically for the midlands hospice and the Irish Hospice Foundation who have advocated and supported the project since inception.”

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Massive €20m funding boost for new Midlands Hospice

https://tullamorelionsclub.com/hooves-4-hospice/

Westmeath Footballer lends support to Lely cycle for Hooves for Hospice

Alan Heaney and Niall McGauran, co-owners of Lely Centre, Mullingar, who specialise in robotic milking, feeding and cleaning specialists in the east, midlands and west and four other ultracyclists from Mayo completed the Ancient East cycle, a distance of over 1,1000km for Hooves 4 Hooves.

The cyclists Alan Heaney, Niall McGauran, Jonathon Verry, Ronan Bourke Vinny Galvin, and Brendan Barret began their cycle on Wednesday August 24 in Derry and completed it at the Old Head of Kinsale, four days later.

The other charities that will benefit from the cycle are Turn2Me, an online mental health service, and Mayo Roscommon Hospice.

Lely Centre, based in Mullingar Business Park, offer sales and service of robotic milking systems, feeding and barn equipment to both dairy and beef farmers. They provide tailor-made solutions for Irish dairy farmers, including in-house yard design, paddock mapping, project management, farm management support and 24/7 service and back up.

Alan Heaney said: “This is our sixth ultra charity cycle – we do one per year – to date we have raised €227,000 over 8,700km across five counties and over 25 days, approximately 350m per day.”

Their recent and cycles are: 1,600km Lourdes to Knock; 2,200km Wild Atlantic Way; 600km Mizen to Malin.

“All our events are self-financed, so 100 per cent of everything collected goes directly to the deserving causes. We are delighted to have chosen Hooves 4 Hospice as one of our charity partners as we can see the great work done in Castlebar Mayo and Roscommon town, were two large hospice centres were recently built.

“Being part-time farmers and multiple business owners, we are impressed with the energy and enthusiasm in the H4H committee and their drive to build a hospice in the midland area. There is a great synergy between our business and the ethos of Hooves 4 Hospice and we are all farmers, deep down.”

Pat Lalor, chairman of the Hooves 4 Hospice Committee, said. “We are excited that an innovative company like Lely would choose H4H as one of their charity partners and we look forward to working with them over the next few weeks.

“I would encourage all their customers, suppliers and farmers in the midlands to support them and their efforts for those worthwhile and deserving projects,” he added.

https://www.ultracyclingforcharity.ie/meet-the-cyclists.

To donate, email Alan on alanjheaney@gmail.com or use IBAN:IE64 BOFI 9054 8311 5571 38

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