An incredible €70,000 was raised for the Sunflower Children’s Hospice at the Sunflower Sunday Ladies Lunch, which brought almost 300 guests together at The Grace, Westport Estate, for a very special afternoon of fundraising, entertainment and inspiring personal stories.
Hosted by Miriam O’Callaghan and Laurita Blewitt, the event featured a four-course lunch, live music, inspirational speakers and a number of heartfelt conversations about the importance of hospice care for children and families.
Every euro raised will help bring the Sunflower Children’s Hospice one step closer to becoming a reality.
A day of inspiration, friendship and fundraising
The afternoon featured performances from the Galway Tenors, Liam O’Connor and his band, and Oisín O’Donnell Music, with guests also hearing from people whose lives have been personally touched by hospice care.
Laurita Blewitt spoke with Rita Casey and Edel Hyland about their own experiences with Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, while she also sat down with Laura Ruane, mum to Kiah Ruane, who has complex, critical care needs and will be a future service user of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice.
Laura spoke openly and movingly about the difference the new hospice will make to Kiah and to their entire family.
Miriam O’Callaghan also hosted a panel discussion with Orla Freeman, Mairéad Dunford and Laura Coleman, Family Therapist with Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, who shared their experiences and insights into hospice care.
Miriam O’Callaghan, ambassador for the Sunflower Children’s Hospice, said:
“I’m delighted to support the Sunflower Children’s Hospice. We shouldn’t have to have a hospice for children – it seems so sad. Yet a hospice is a wonderful and important place, and there isn’t one in the west at all.”
Bringing Sunflower Children’s Hospice closer to reality
The Sunflower Children’s Hospice is being developed by Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. It will provide specialist palliative care and support to children and young adults with life-limiting illnesses, as well as their parents, siblings and wider families, across eight counties on the western seaboard.
The project will be the first children’s hospice to be built outside Dublin and the first of its kind to be constructed in Ireland since 2011. A site has been secured in Castlebar, with the Government and HSE committed to supporting clinical governance.
Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said:
“It was a truly special afternoon and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the Sunflower Ladies Lunch such a success, especially Dee Conroy and her committee.
“We heard some incredibly powerful and personal stories from women who have experienced life-limiting illnesses, and these conversations really brought home the importance of having specialist care and support available to children and families closer to home.
“Every euro raised brings us another step closer to making Sunflower Children’s Hospice a reality.”
€41,290 raised through the Summer Raffle
The fundraising continued with the Sunflower Summer Raffle, organised by the event committee, which raised an incredible €41,290.
The raffle featured fantastic prizes including Ryder Cup tickets and vouchers for Adare Manor, Brown Thomas, Center Parcs, Kean’s Claremorris and Smyths Toys Superstores.
The draw took place during the Ladies Lunch, with sincere thanks to the generous sponsors who donated prizes: Mellett Electrical, OSENG, Hayes Mechanical & Engineering, Connaught Contractors Ltd, Smyths Toys Superstores, Kean’s Claremorris and OT-ABC.
A further 29 prizes were won through the event-day raffle, including an overnight stay at Ashford Castle, generously sponsored by Anatomy. More than 20 businesses supported the event-day raffle with prizes, helping to make the overall fundraising total possible.
Thank you to everyone who made the day possible
The event organising committee was led by Dee Conroy of Redz Hair & COBO Brew, together with Niamh O’Grady of Ella & Jo and Debbie Cullinane.
Guests also received luxury gift bags valued at more than €150 each, generously supported by Ella & Jo, Bellamianta, BPerfect, Redz Hair, Juvàre Haircare, FabÜ and HyperHealth.
Special thanks also go to Judi Roche-Fallon of Balla Florists, who created and sponsored the beautiful floral arrangements for the event. In a wonderful gesture, Judi gifted all 140 floral displays to guests to take home as a reminder of a very special day.
We would like to thank everyone who attended, donated, sponsored prizes, performed, volunteered and supported the Sunflower Sunday Ladies Lunch.
Together, you have helped raise an incredible €70,000 and brought the vision for Sunflower Children’s Hospice one step closer to reality.
Thank you for helping us create a future where children and families across the West of Ireland can access specialist hospice care and support closer to home.
