Dundalk family honoured for raising €200,000 for North Louth Hospice

A Dundalk family has received national recognition for its volunteer fundraising work for North Louth Hospice Homecare.

Melissa Hayes, and her parents, Michael and Patricia Hayes, raise funds each year in tribute to Melissa’s late friend Gene Berrill, who passed away in 2016, and to recognise North Louth Hospice Homecare’s support of Michael, following a cancer diagnosis in 2015.

To date, the family has raised €200,000.

Since 2015, their fundraising culminates each year in a charity concert ‘Fairytale of Dundalk’ at the An Táin Arts Centre in December, which has featured Bagatelle, The Fureys, Duke Special, Jim Corr, The 4 of Us, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre.

Melissa has also long been involved in raising funds for North Louth Hospice through a charity CD, busking, Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice events and production of a calendar.

The family’s work was recently honoured at St Francis Hospice in Dublin’s Blanchardstown with a Together for Hospice National Super Host Award.

This year’s Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice aims to raise over €2million and takes place on Thursday, September 24.

But supporters can host or attend a coffee morning on a date that suits them – with every cent raised going to their local hospice.

“We have seen first hand the work of North Louth Hospice Homecare,” said Melissa.

“I am in the very fortunate position of being able to say both my parents have come through cancer treatment. That is why we keep doing it.

“Others are not so fortunate. North Louth Hospice Homecare is completely volunteer led and remarkable in terms of its work, the number of volunteers, and the amount of people it reaches.

“Each year, you know somebody diagnosed with cancer. The fundraising helps somebody different every time. Nobody knows if and when. We are very grateful to have the hospice. Its volunteers are remarkable.

“Fairytale of Dundalk has grown into something quite lovely in the days leading up to Christmas,” added Melissa, who paid tribute to the work of Rita Griffin and the many others who help with fundraising.

According to Anne Newell, Treasurer, North Louth Hospice Homecare, support of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, greatly improving care for patients with life-limiting illness.

“Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice, one of our longest and most-loved fundraisers, is now in its 34th year raising funds for Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland,” she said.

“No matter where you live in Ireland, we are asking everyone to celebrate our countless coffee morning hosts, who give so selflessly of their time and energy in their local communities.”

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 to fund 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 24 - or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996. If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can donate at: hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate