Become a Hospice Hero by supporting Galway Hospice’s Sunflower Days

Hospice Sunflower Days will take place on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th of June. Sunflower Days is a national fundraising campaign through which funds are raised in support of local hospice services. As the sunflower is the emblem of hospice internationally, thousands of sunflower pins will be sold throughout Ireland over the course of the two days, together with other Sunflower Days merchandise. All proceeds from the sale of these items in Galway will go directly towards funding the Galway Hospice Home Care, Day Care and Bereavement Support services.

Mary Flannery, a Galway woman who volunteers with Galway Hospice, is just one of the Hospice Heroes who will take to the streets of Galway next month in support of Galway Hospice’s Sunflower Days. Mary was among 18 ‘Hospice Heroes’ honoured earlier this month at a special ceremony in St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Mary began supporting Galway Hospice as a Sunflower Days volunteer with her late husband Tony. Each year on Sunflower Days, Mary, Tony and their family and friends would sell sunflowers from early in the morning until late in the evening in order to raise vital funds to support Galway Hospice services. Sadly, Tony passed away in March 2016. However, Mary vowed to continue her support of Galway Hospice during Sunflower Days in memory of her beloved husband.

Hosting the ceremony, RTÉ broadcaster, Mary Kennedy commended the volunteers and called on the public to support Hospice Sunflower Days 2018. Ms. Kennedy said; “There is tremendous goodwill by people in Ireland towards their local hospices and once again, I am encouraging the public to show their support for Hospice Sunflower Days next month. The care and support afforded to families in need is vitally important. By buying a sunflower from one of the many volunteers, you are helping to bring comfort and dignity to people at the end-of-life.”

Will you become a Hospice Hero and volunteer your time in support of Galway Hospice on either Friday 8th or Saturday 9th June? To volunteer, contact Galway Hospice on 091 770868 or email fundraising@galwayhospice.ie.

Pictured at this year’s ‘Hospice Heroes’ awards ceremony are (l-r): Mary Flannery (a Galway Hospice volunteer who represented the hundreds of volunteers in Galway who give so generously of their time on Sunflower Days), Mary Kennedy (RTE Presenter) and Fiona McKinnon (Galway Hospice).