In December 2020, Wicklow Hospice in Magheramore opened its in-patient unit becoming the first specialist palliative care facility in County Wicklow, providing in-patient care to those with life-limiting conditions. Operated by Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, (OLH&CS) it joins the 200-bed facility in Harold’s Cross and the 12-bed facility at Blackrock in Dublin, as part of the largest provider of specialist palliative care in Ireland.

Wicklow Hospice provides 15 in-patient public beds and a new base for the Specialist Community Palliative Care team. Its opening marks the culmination of ten years work by the local community and has been developed on a site donated by the Columban Sisters. When the service is fully up and running in the coming months, there will be just over 40 staff in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles. The HSE will meet the operational costs of the facility and fundraising for capital costs and enhancements for patients and families will be driven by OLH&CS.

However, we also rely on the support of the public as COVID-19 has impacted our fundraising by over 20% compared to the previous year. This comes at a time when we urgently need support to cover the bank loan of €2.75 million that was required to finish the building work and to provide the many holistic therapies that are an essential part of Hospice Care.

Thank you so much for signing up to this event and we hope you enjoy it.

Please contact Sinéad in Wicklow Hospice on 01 4068868 [email protected] for your fundraising toolkit and any help you may need with fundraising.

Happy Running!