Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning, in aid of Hospice and sponsored by Bewley’s, is taking place all over Ireland today.
It was officially launched by Cybil Mulcahy of TV3 on Grafton Street this morning.
Sybil, who was joined today by Veronica Campbell of Bewley’s and representatives from hospices nationwide, launched the appeal asking people to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends or colleagues and raise much needed funds for local hospice services.
Over the past two decades, people have consumed 15 million cups of Bewley’s coffee and raised an estimated €30 million for hospice care.
people in workplaces, homes and local organisations across Ireland are being asked to hold a coffee morning and to collect €2 for each cup of Bewley’s fresh coffee consumed. All money raised locally stays locally and goes directly back to fund local Hospice care services.
The first coffee morning took place in 1993 when there were three hospices in Ireland and today there are a total of nine hospice inpatient units in the country. But there is a recognised need for hundreds more hospice beds and associated staff.
Going by current population figures, there should be 450 hospice beds in the country. Today, there are 155 hospice beds available with another 44 beds ready but not yet operational.