Call for public to support Hospice Sunflower Days
Members of the public are asked to support the Offaly Hospice Foundation on Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10, when the National Hospice Movement Sunflower fundraising days take place. Donations can be made on-street or online and every penny raised local stays local.
Hospice Sunflower Days is returning for its 33rd year in June with 19 hospices throughout the country taking part in the on-street collection on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June. This year’s campaign was launched by Hospice Sunflower Days Ambassador, Mary Kennedy and on hand to support the launch were Virgin Media presenters Karen Koster, Martin King and Deric Hartigan.
As well as the on-street collection, there is also an opportunity once again for the public to support their chosen hospice or homecare service online. The virtual sunflower garden is now open until the end of June and donors can sponsor a virtual sunflower ‘in memory’ of a loved one at www.sunflowerdays.ie
Every euro raised locally, stays locally and supporters donating online will be able to select which hospice they wish to support from a dropdown menu so they can rest assured their donation will go directly to their preferred hospice service.
Hospices and specialist palliative homecare services throughout the country provide free-of-charge care and support to those living with a life-limiting illness, while also offering assistance to the patient’s family members. The Hospice Sunflower Days campaign aims to raise vital funds to allow these hospices and specialist homecare services to continue to provide their essential personal care in either specialist units in the hospice or in a patient’s own home. Funding from the 2023 campaign will be used to help upgrade hospice and homecare facilities, purchase new equipment and fund local hospice services.
Speaking about the launch of the 2023 Hospice Sunflower Days campaign, Mary Murphy, Fundraising, Offaly Hospice Foundation, said, “We are delighted to launch our 33rd Hospice Sunflower Days campaign. On Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June, volunteers will be selling sunflower merchandise to raise vital funds. We are calling on everyone to mark Hospice Sunflower Days this year by supporting on-street or online at www.sunflowerdays.ie and donating what you can to help Offaly Hospice Foundation.”