North Westmeath Hospice hero recognised ahead of coffee morning fundraiser
A Westmeath woman who began supporting her local hospice following the death of her husband has received national recognition for her fundraising efforts.
Anne Donohoe from Mullingar will mark a decade of raising funds for North Westmeath Hospice by helping to host a Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice this month.
This year’s event aims to raise €2 million and takes place on September 25, though supporters can host or attend coffee mornings on dates that suit them, and every cent raised locally goes to their local Hospice.
Anne’s work was recently honoured at Bewley’s café in Dublin, where she was presented with a Together for Hospice Hero award.
She began fundraising for North Westmeath Hospice after her family experienced first-hand the benefit of its care.
“I didn’t really know much about hospice but then in 2010, my husband, Paul, required palliative care and he wanted to do it all alone,” said Anne.
“He didn’t want to disturb anyone and preferred to manage things at home, which was a lot of pressure on me.
“In the last months of his life, he couldn’t really get around and I rang the hospice and explained the situation and they listened to me and were so lovely.
“I looked after him at home and hospice came on board for the last six weeks, so that someone was always at his side – they were incredible.
“It was such a help, I didn’t feel I was on my own and I had people I could talk to and ask questions.
“It was great to still have the set-up at home he wanted.”
Anne will be involved in a big community coffee morning in Market Square, Mullingar on September 25.
“Everyone has been touched by cancer or sickness at some stage in their lives and locals are always very supportive,” she said.
“I feel it’s good to give back what hospice has given to me.
“It’s such a needed service that a lot of people don’t really know about until they need it and then it’s life-changing.”
Together for Hospice, the national hospice movement, represents 24 hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers supporting patients and their families across Ireland.
Fundraised income is used by local hospice services for new buildings, refurbishment of existing buildings, staff, extra comforts for patients and their families, and innovative patient care projects nationwide.
Funds raised through Together For Hospice campaigns support some of the core services funded by the HSE.
Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday September 25 (or on a date that suits you) at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.
If you can’t host or attend a coffee morning, you can donate at: hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate.
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