A WOMAN who has been insisting that “you will, you will, you will” to a nice cuppa for over 15 years has been recognised for her persistence.
Taking her cue for Mrs Doyle, Maria Welford, from a Tipperary woman living in Killaloe, has been a volunteer at Milford Care Centre in Limerick for over 15 years.
Her tireless work was recently honoured when she was presented with a Together for Hospice Hero Award.
And her dedication to Milford Care Centre continues as she urges everyone on Shannonside to support the Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice.
Running right across Ireland, this year’s event aims to raise over €2million and takes place on September 25, but supporters can host or attend a coffee morning on a date that suits them, with every cent raised locally going to their local hospice.
Maria said being on the other side of the hospice services gave her an even greater appreciation of the level of care involved.
“Milford is an amazing organisation and unfortunately, our family had to use it for the first time this year,” she said.
“My sister-in-law passed away in January and the care she got was just exceptional.
“That really opened my eyes to the work the hospice does and why we do this work – it’s the little extras, like a manicure or massages the patients get.
“Without those nurses and care assistants, there is no hospice; they’re its backbone and they’re angels.”
Maria said that her family was “blown away – they said, ‘now we know why you’re a volunteer, now we know why you never stop’.”
Maria volunteers each year on Hospice Sunflower Day, the Light a Memory Christmas campaign, the annual 10km fundraiser, and the Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice.
“I love my involvement in Milford and in the coffee morning – it’s hard work but I love it,” she said.
Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday September 25 – or on a date that suits – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or over the phone on 0818 995 996.
Donations can also be made on hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate.
