A launch photocall of Hospice Sunflower Days took place for Galway Hospice in Kilglass National School, Ahascragh on Monday which featured sisters, Sofia and Shauna Cahill, who have a special connection to the hospice as their Dad, John, sadly passed away there in 2020. Monday was also a significant date for the girls as it marked their Dad’s birthday.
Hospice Sunflower Days is returning for its 33rd year this June with the on-street collection taking place in towns and villages throughout the county on Friday and Saturday June 9 and 10.
The family received fantastic support from Galway Hospice in the lead up to John’s final days and afterwards during the grieving process. Caroline Quinn, Principal Medical Social Worker at Galway Hospice was described by the girls Mum, Louise, as a ‘guardian angel’ to the girls especially during the first few months after their Dad’s passing.
Sofia and Shauna were joined by their school mates to help launch the fundraising efforts for this year’s campaign. Both girls are very passionate about fundraising for the hospice and last year they arranged for their whole school to wear yellow for Hospice Sunflower Days and raised over €1,000, which is the largest amount the school has ever raised for a local charity.
Previously Sofia and Shauna have also taken part in the Galway Hospice Memorial Walk in memory of their Dad and they both participated in Hospice Sunflower Days on-street collection in 2022 by selling sunflowers with their Mum. This year they plan on doing the same and are encouraging others to get involved too to support their local hospice by donating on-street or online.
Speaking at the photocall at Kilglass National School, Vincent Glynn, Principal, commented, “All of the students and staff at Kilglass National School are really proud of Sofia and Shauna for their bravery and the fantastic fundraising efforts they have made in the last year for Galway Hospice. We are all delighted to come together with them to launch this year’s Hospice Sunflower Days campaign and we call on the public to join us in supporting hospices and homecare services throughout the country to allow them to continue to provide their care and support to patients and families just like the Cahills.”
Volunteers will once again be selling sunflower merchandise to raise vital funds for local hospices and homecare services throughout the country. There is also an opportunity to support your chosen hospice or homecare service online by making a donation and planting a virtual sunflower ‘in memory’ of a loved one in the virtual sunflower garden which is open until June 30 at www.togetherforhospice.ie/sunflowerdays
