Limerick woman raises over €30,000 for Hospice

A BID to pay tribute to her late father has led to a Limerick woman raising more than €30,000 for Hospice services over the last 14 years.

Ann Marie Bagnell’s father Michael, a farmer and agricultural contractor, died 20 years ago from skin cancer but she has never forgotten the care he received from Milford Hospice in his final days.

She now plans to host yet another Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice at her home in Ballycahill, Hospital.

This longstanding and much-loved national event, coordinated by Together for Hospice, takes place on September 26 (Ann Marie’s is on the following day), and raises funds for Hospices throughout Ireland, but whatever is raised locally, stays locally.

Ann Marie has even roped in colleagues at Fermoy-based med-tech company Sanmina Ireland, who support an annual raffle she organises in aid of Milford Hospice. “It’s a community that makes it a success,” she said.

“I let people know about my coffee evening, rather than coffee morning, on Facebook, put up posters around all the local shops, I send invites out to my neighbours, also send it out on WhatsApp and advertise in the local papers and even parish newsletters.”

She also supplements the total generated from her coffee evening by selling raffle tickets on the night, for which she buys prizes throughout the year, while supporters donate hampers and gifts.

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Her passion for Hospice care stems from personal experience of their work. “My dad died at home 20 years ago of skin cancer, aged 72, and the palliative care team were brilliant, the staff couldn’t do enough for him, they came out to the house.

“It’s good to give something back and it’s good to have a Hospice but not to need it.

“It’s so calm and peaceful in Milford, it’s so easy for the families, every care is given to them.”

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 24 Hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers supporting patients and their families across Ireland. 

Funds raised locally stay local and go directly to each local Hospice service to innovate, build new facilities, develop new services and deliver quality improvements and extra benefits for their patients and their family members. 

Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 26 or on a date that suits you at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996. 

Ann Marie’s event runs from 6pm to 9pm and will be held at her home on Friday, September 27.