Local Mayo hospice hero awarded ahead of coffee morning fundraiser

A Mayo lady who has often supported her local hospice, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, has received national recognition for her fundraising efforts. Anne Lyons, from Ballyhaunis, raised a staggering €11,000 last year and she plans to host another Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice this month.

Her tireless work was recently honoured at the iconic Dublin café, where she was presented with a Together for Hospice Hero Award and her dedication to Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation continues as she urges everyone to support her annual fundraiser at her home.

Running right across Ireland, this year’s Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice aims to raise over €2 million and takes place on September 25 but supporters can host or attend a coffee morning on a date that suits them, with every cent raised locally going to their local Hospice.

Originally from Tipperary, Anne has lived in Ballyhaunis for 31 years and her coffee morning has become a staple event in the town’s calendar. Seeing some of her family members, including her husband, Gerry, go through cancer and palliative care gave her an appreciation of the work of the hospice.

“I decided to start the coffee morning just for the neighbours and it started small but gradually grew. It became a bit of a tradition and my husband, Gerry, actually joined us for the first time because he would have normally been at work at the end of September in 2023.” Gerry’s health rapidly declined and three months later, he moved into the Mayo Hospice Castlebar and died shortly before his 70th birthday and the couple’s 30 year wedding anniversary.

“The timing was uncanny, really. It was very hard on our children, who are only in their twenties, but it was important to me to hold the coffee morning last year, the first year without him. I joined up with Ballyhaunis GAA club because Gerry was involved there most of his life and was chairman the last five years.

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“Everyone came out and supported him and we raised over €11,000. The kids were just amazed at the amount, we'd ordinarily have raised about €1,000.” A trained nurse, Anne said the hospice gave the family the chance to be able to focus fully on Gerry in his final days.

“I’d have loved to have been able to bring him home but we wouldn’t have been able to give him the care the hospice provided. We also wouldn’t have had that quality time with him if we were at home because you have a lot of visitors and still need to do your washing and cleaning. It meant we were able to focus on Gerry completely, that's what the hospice gave us.”

Anne will host her coffee morning at home in Ballyhaunis in Gerry’s memory on Saturday, September 20. 

Martina Jennings, CEO Mayo Roscommon Hospice said: “I am delighted that Anne has received this special recognition award. Anne and her late husband Gerry have been long time supporters of Hospice. Anne’s coffee morning last year was particularly special as it was the first one without Gerry. 

"The support she received is testament to the love and respect their community holds for their family. Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice is one of our most important fundraisers which enables us to continue to fund, support and develop palliative care services in our hospices and in our community. We are incredibly grateful to all our coffee morning hosts for their loyal support.”

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 24 Hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers supporting patients and their families across Ireland. 

Fundraised income is used by local hospice services to fund new buildings, refurbishment of existing buildings, staff, extra comforts for patients and their families, and innovative patient care projects nationwide. Funds raised through Together For Hospice campaigns support some of the core services funded by the HSE.

Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 25  or on a date that suits you at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996. If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can donate at: hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate. 

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