Hospice raises concerns about current economic climate

Despite the overwhelming generosity of the local community, Southern Area Hospice Services is significantly behind on its fundraising targets for 2013.

With the momentous task of needing to raise £2.3 million this year to maintain the current level of service, hospice fundraising is currently not where it needs to be at this time of year.

The current economic climate is having an impact on the ability of the hospice to fundraise. The recession however, has not affected the need for hospice care, in fact more people each and every year are turning to hospice for help.

In 2012 alone 1,100 patients used Southern Area Hospice services. In order to try and address the current shortfall in fundraising Southern Area Hospice is introducing a number of new fundraising activities.

With a full and varied programme of events in place there is something to enable everyone to get involved. It is hoped that with the continuing support of new and established fundraising activities Southern Area Hospice will meet its required target by the end of December 2013.

Currently the hospice provides inpatient and day therapy facilities in Newry, day therapy in south Tyrone Hospital, Consultant-led outpatient services in south Tyrone, Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospitals as well as having a Specialist Palliative Care Nurse in the community in the Armagh and Dungannon area.

The Hospice also helps fund a Specialist Palliative Care Team in Daisy Hill Hospital, as well as counselling and support programmes in the community.

Majella Gollogly, Fundraising Manager at Southern Area Hospice, “We fully understand that many people are struggling to make ends meet and that the recession is affecting everyone.

“Hospice services are no different and with more local people than ever diagnosed with cancer and needing hospice care, making a donation to hospice or supporting a fundraising event will help to raise the money necessary to provide the care that local patients and their families need and deserve.

“There are lots of ways in which you can show your support. We have a number of well-established campaigns and some new events coming up including ‘The Farmer Wants a Wife’, a Business Lunch, The Camino Trek, The 4 Peaks Challenge, The King & Queen of Slieve Gullion, a 10k chipped run and the Hospice Christmas Grand Draw.”

Dr Tracy Anderson, Hospice Consultant in Palliative Care is supporting fundraising by taking part in an In -Line Skating Marathon (Rollerblade Marathon) in Cologne, Germany on the 13th October.

Dr Anderson said, “As a Doctor in Hospice I see first-hand how important the Hospice services are to this area and the real difference Hospice care makes to our patients and their families.

“Without Southern Area Hospice many people would not be able to have treatment and support in their own homes or to have the welcome relief that daycare or inpatient facilities can bring. I am getting my skates on to do my bit to help the Hospice meet its target.

“There are lots of ways you can get involved and help. I would urge anyone who can, to please get involved in the forthcoming campaigns, support an event that friends or relatives have organised or even create an event of your own.

“Every penny matters as we approach the end of the year and every penny raised makes a difference in the lives of people right here in our own community.”

Other Hospice staff are also doing their bit to help meet the target. Deirdre McKenna, Hospice Social Worker is organising a ‘Guinness World Record Attempt’ for the greatest number of brides in one place called ‘Brides in Banbridge’ and a number of staff are taking part in the Zipline across the Lagan while Tracey Muldoon from the fundraising department has just completed the ‘ Great North Run’ with a number of other local runners.

There are lots of ways in which you can get involved or simply make a donation. For further information please log onto www.southernareahospiceservices.org

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Posted by Newry Times News on Sep 23 2013. Filed under Community, What's On. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry