Longford and Midlands hospice fundraiser surpasses mammoth target milestone
Tullamore Lions Club said the HSE will be issuing invitations to interested parties soon to attend information events
Tullamore Lions Club is pleased has said they are pleased to announce that the current value of their “Hooves4Hospice” fundraising project has surpassed €1 million.
The rugby club stated the funding exceeds their ambitions and reflects the generosity of farmers, the agricultural community generally, many schools, community groups and individuals.
The total raised to date is a total of €1.06 million.
The bulk of the funds received have come from the four Midlands counties which the Regional Hospice will serve and significant support has also come from other counties in all four provinces.
Tullamore Lions Club said the success of their fundraising project reflects a remarkable level of understanding of the disadvantage experienced by patients who need inpatient palliative care in the Midlands, in not having such a facility available in the region.
The club stated the prospect of that disadvantage disappearing soon, is in sight.
"That optimism stems from the decision of the Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnolly TD, in selecting the Arden Lane site as the preferred location at which to locate the Midland Regional Hospice," a spokesperson said. "The site selected is south facing and is capable of meeting all the guidelines of our Department of Health in relation to the location and facilities that constitute a modern hospice.
Tullamore Lions Club has offered the Arden Lane site free of charge and unconditionally to the HSE.
The construction and commissioning of the Midland Regional Hospice is the responsibility of the HSE.
The sporting organisation said that the design team, Coady Architects, has already formed views, based on modern best practice, that will inform their thinking in relation to the design of our Regional Hospice.
Tullamore Lions Club said the HSE will be issuing invitations to interested parties and individuals to attend information events at which the design team will outline their design approach and answer questions.
"We exhort everyone who can to attend one of these events," the spokesperson added.
The Lions Clubs in the Midlands, led by Tullamore Lions Club, established the Hooves4Hospice fundraising project in 2020, to gather €1 million towards the capital costs of a Level 3 regional hospice servicing the counties of Westmeath, Longford, Offaly and Laois.