Heifer has special role in helping Hospice

AS a gesture of appreciation to Kerry Hospice, Gerard Ashe of Glen Minard and his daughters, Geraldine, Deirdre and Gráinne, have organised a raffle in aid of the new hospice building currently under construction at University Hospital Kerry.

This charity is very close to their hearts as Gerard’s wife, Cáit, was a palliative care patient for 18 months before she passed away in January of this year. During her time as a patient, Cáit was very appreciative of the palliative care team’s excellent care, compassion and extreme professionalism.

“Not alone did the amazing team care for Mom but they also looked after us as a family, which will never be forgotten,” said Geraldine.

The new building will be a huge comfort to cancer patients and their families as it will allow for very sick people to have access to a 15-bed inpatient unit, providing specialist medicines and expert care. “We hope to raise as much money as possible and also to raise awareness of the fantastic work that the palliative care team are doing on a daily basis to care for the terminally ill,” Geraldine added.

Gerard is donating a Belgian Blue heifer and her calf as first prize in the raffle, which will be launched at the West Kerry Agricultural Show this Sunday, July 10. The second prize is two nights deluxe accommodation at the Skellig Hotel in Dingle, and third prize is a food hamper worth €100.

The raffle draw will take place at the in-calf heifer sale at Dingle Mart on Saturday, November 5, next. If the winner of the Belgian Blue and her calf doesn’t have a herd number then the animals will be auctioned at the mart and the winner will get the cash value, which could be in the order of €2,000 depending on sales prices at the time.

Raffle tickets are €5 each or five for €20 and will be available from family members and at many locations throughout Kerry.

More information is available on Facebook @ Kerry Hospice In-Calf Heifer Raffle.

Gerard Ashe with daughters (from left) Geraldine, Gráinne and Deirdre, Deirdre’s children Eoghan and Ella, and the in-calf Belgian Blue heifer that is the top prize in a fundraising raffle for Kerry Hospice.