Hollywood star backs Laois charity's big fundraiser

Hollywood star and Irish actor Brendan Gleeson is encouraging people across Laois to get behind a €2.4 million national fundraising drive for 24 Hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers that make up Together For Hospice, The National Hospice Movement.

The legendary actor is asking everyone in Laois and around Ireland to get brewing ahead of next month’s Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice, which has raised €45.3million for frontline Hospice care since 1992.

To help get the campaign on the road in Laois and elsewhere, the actor met Mary Delaney, Irene Murray of the Laois Hospice Foundation and at the recent launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning.

Ms Delaney, who is the Chairperson of the Laois Hospice Foundation, was delighted to have the star on board because of what the money he is helping to raise will be used for.

“We are delighted Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice, one of Together For Hospice’s longest and most loved fundraisers, is now in its 32nd year raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services across Ireland.

“It is a chance to celebrate our coffee morning hosts, who give so selflessly of their time and energy in their local communities. This ongoing, unwavering support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, enhancing care for patients living with life-limiting illness,” she said.

This year’s event takes place on September 26 – but supporters can host or attend one on a date that suits them, with every cent raised locally going to their local Hospice.

Both of Gleeson’s parents spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin, which is set to begin work on a new 24 single-room in-patient unit, at a cost of €29 million.

“I’m aware that I’m in the final chapters but you’re just trying to keep the creaky bits moving as well as possible,” said the Oscar-nominated actor as he officially launched the fundraiser on Wednesday (Aug21) in Bewley’s Café, Dublin.

“A great quote shared with me years ago was ‘good health is a golden crown which only those who are ill can see’, so the person who is sick is seeing how glorious it is.

“I try to keep an eye on the crown and as long as I’m motoring around alright, I appreciate life,” he said.

Gleeson said there is a huge need for developments like those at St Francis Hospice, which will give families added privacy in their loved ones’ final days.

“I am asking everyone in Laois on September 26, or whenever suits them, to organise, support or donate to a coffee morning, wherever it might be held.”

Jason Doyle, Managing Director at Bewley’s Ireland, said the company was immensely proud to again support the event, now in it’s 32nd year making it the country’s most successful and longest charity partnerships.

“Bewley’s as an iconic Irish brand, was founded on the principle of caring for people and communities, which ties in perfectly with the ethos of Together For Hospice.

“We encourage everyone to host a coffee morning to help support the incredible, and often unseen, work that hospices nationwide carry out every day.

The ethos at the heart of Together For Hospice is whatever is raised locally stays locally and goes directly to each local Hospice service to innovate, build new facilities, develop new services and deliver quality improvements and extra benefits for patients and their family members.

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

If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can make a donation at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate