Longford dairy farmers raise funds for Hooves 4 Hospice

Dairy farmers in Co. Longford recently came together to raise a substantial sum of money for the Hooves 4 Hospice project, that aims to raise €1 million towards the building of a regional hospice to serve the people of Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly.

The midlands is now the only region in the country without a purpose built specialised facility to provide respite and end of life care, according to Pat Lalor, Westmeath organic farmer and Lions Club member who chairs the Hooves 4 Hospice campaign.

It is estimated that a 15-bed hospice unit would cost in the region of €14m.

Longford farmers Eugene Fitzpatrick, Cecil Bennet, Charlie Reilly, Mike Magan and many others, asked farmers to donate a calf for the fundraiser.

"The response was so generous that it was decided to sell all the calves at a special sale at Carrigallen Mart on May 22, last," Pat said.

"In addition, Kiernan Milling in Granard sponsored a bag of calf ration for the buyer of every calf at the mart on the day.

The organisers expressed thanks to the farmers who donated animals; Helen Kells, manager of Carrigallen mart for facilitating the sale; Kiernan Milling, for its sponsorship of the event and the local companies, and individuals for cash donations. 

'Hooves 4 Hospice gets its first calf on board' - photo via Hooves 4 Hospice facebook
'Hooves 4 Hospice gets its first calf on board' - photo via Hooves 4 Hospice facebook

"The leadership shown by the group of dairy farmers in Co. Longford in spearheading this fundraising effort, is a great example of how a community can come together to raise funds for a hospice facility that will provide expert respite and end of life care for families right across the midlands," said Pat.

"It is hoped that the Longford model of a group of dairy farmers donating a calf for the Hooves 4 Hospice project, will become a blueprint for other such groups of farmers across the other midland counties of Laois, Offaly and Westmeath," he concluded.

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