Drogheda hospice is 25 years
IT’S hard to believe that the wonderful people in the Drogheda Hospice Homecare have been serving the community for exactly 25 years.
The Drogheda branch of the Louth Hospice and Homecare Foundation was formed in the Weslcourt Hotel, Drogheda on Tuesday, January 11, 1994 and, despite the small attendance on the night, a committee was formed.
Carmel Freeman (right) was elected chair of the branch with the posts of secretary and treasurer going, respectively, to Sr. Therese Kilkenny M.M.M. and Roisin Hughes.
Noeleen Keelan was elected P.R.O with a committee of Sr. Kathleen Gallagher M.M.M., Kitty McCarthy, and Ald. Fergus 0’Dowd.
They provide a confidential service to help cancer patients from Drogheda and environs access transportation to and from hospital treatments and appointments and to provide general support for them during their illness.
The organisation is totally volunteer lead and all drivers give their time to bring many patients to and from hospital both locally in Our Lady of Lourdes and to the centres of excellence in Dublin.
They have a catchment area of Drogheda and environs as far as Clogherhead, Dunleer and to the Meath border on the Dublin Road. The overall vision is the building of a hospice to cater for the needs of the north east.
The group rely entirely on the generosity of people to keep providing services for patients and all monies raised are used locally for patient transport services, homecare aids and other support services.
There is an email address that people who have a bit of spare time to become a driver or helper might want: droghedahospicehomecare@gmail.com.
As for the Drogheda Hospice group, they deserve a 25 year party in their honour.