Cyclists wheel into Wicklow to promote coffee morning
FIVE employees of Bewley’s wheeled into Wicklow last Thursday on the first day of a four-day cycle to promote Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning.
The cyclists, Eamonn Diver, Dylan Rafter, Jason Doyle, Ann Marie Raftice and Charlie Scully, visited the site of the Wicklow Hospice in Magheramore on Thursday to support the #coffee4hospice cause. They were joined on the day by Alan Donovan, who isn’t a Bewley’s employee.
The five Bewley’s employees undertook the 500km cross-country cycle to raise much needed funds for hospices nationwide as part of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s which takes place on Thursday, September 20.
In a bid to raise €5,000, the cycle took in six counties over four days, kicking off from Bewley’s Head Office on Thursday last. During the challenge, the team visited five hospices and homecare services.
The first stop on the cycle was the site of the under-construction Wicklow Hospice followed by a stop at Wexford, Waterford and Offaly with the final stop at Bewley’s own local hospice, St Francis’ Hospice in Raheny.
Since the first coffee morning 26 years ago, over €35 million has been raised by people around Ireland.
This year it is hoped that Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s will raise €2 million for local hospice and homecare services nationwide.
Jason Doyle, Managing Director of Bewley’s, said: ‘Bewley’s is proud to be the sponsor of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice since it first began in 1993 and we’re looking forward to another fantastic coffee morning on September 20.
‘The annual cycle is an excellent opportunity for us to not only raise much-needed funds but also visit the local hospices and see first-hand the essential work both staff and volunteers do and how vital these services are in the local community. With demand for hospice services rising year on year we want to make sure this year’s cycle and coffee morning are the biggest yet and we’re hoping to raise over €2 million.’
Pat Quinlan, Chair of the Voluntary Hospice Group said: ‘Fundraising is essential for our hospices as it ensures we can respond to the growing demand nationwide for hospice and homecare services. The annual Bewley’s cycle is a highlight for us with the teams around the country, in particular because it allows the Bewley’s team see how the money raised benefits hospices and home cares around Ireland.
‘We are particularly delighted the cycle team will visit the site of Wicklow Hospice which is currently being built in part thanks to the support of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s.’
The public can support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice Together with Bewley’s by hosting a coffee morning, attending a coffee morning or texting COFFEE to 50300 to donate €4.