A club that's a tower of strength for Hospice movement in Tipperary

Above: At the presentation of a cheque for €9,000 from Clonmel Rotary Club to South Tipperary Hospice, the proceeds from the club’s Remembrance Tree fundraiser before Christmas, were Schira Lane, South Tipperary Hospice; Mayor of Clonmel, Richie Molloy, who contributed €1,000 from the Mayor’s Fund to the appeal; Rotary Club president, Fil Guida; and Liz Binchy, South Tipperary Hospice

The generosity of the people of Clonmel over nine days in the run-up to Christmas will help South Tipperary Hospice to further develop services for cancer patients most in need of support.

Clonmel Rotary Club’s annual fundraising Remembrance Tree, located at sites on O’Connell Street and Dunne’s Stores, Davis Road, raised €8,000, and that amount was supplemented by €1,000 from the Mayor’s Fund, with the money presented to South Tipperary Hospice representatives Schira Lane and Liz Binchy at a ceremony in Cluain Restaurant.

They thanked Clonmel Rotary for their ongoing support for the Hospice services and assured members that every cent of the €9,000 presented would be wisely spent and put to the best possible use.

“We are so grateful to the club and its members for their ongoing support for our cause,” said Schira Lane, who also thanked Mayor Richie Molloy for contributing to the total raised from his Mayor’s Fund.

Funds from the annual Remembrance Tree collection go towards the home-care nursing services.

Schira Lane said that the HSE has now provided funding towards that service but it doesn’t cover all their needs, and support from outside groups such as Rotary is as important as ever.

And with South Tipperary Hospice continuing to expand services, the total annual spend is €937,000. New services include holistic support for cancer sufferers, as well as support and counselling for staff.

There are also care and supports for those going through end-of-life treatment as well as for bereaved families.

Meanwhile, in association with the HSE, the provision of palliative care beds is ongoing on the former St Luke’s Hospital site – three are in the process of being provided, and a fourth planned, for patients not well enough for home care.

“This is where the money you raise for us is going towards and we are so grateful for your continued support,” Ms Lane added.

Presenting the cheque for €9,000, Rotary Club president Fil Guida congratulated South Tipperary Hospice on their outstanding work and added that the club was honoured to be able to support them with the funds from the Remembrance Tree.

Mr Guida said the collection was one of the club’s most important and best supported projects each year.

He thanked project chairman, Tom Duggan, and his team for the work put in to make it such a success, and had particular praise for the people of Clonmel and surrounding areas who continued to be so generous with their contributions year after year.

“The people who supported the collection had a ribbon placed on the tree to remember a loved one who had passed away, many from cancer, and their generosity is now helping other sufferers and their families in similarly difficult times,” he remarked.

He also thanked club member and Mayor, Richie Molloy, for making such a significant contribution to the fund.