Fifteenth anniversary approaches for Hospice group

With Delvin Hospice Homecare set to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary in 2010, the local group - which raises funds to improve palliative care services - is going from strength to strength.Founded in 1995, Delvin Hospice Homecare"s initial members saw a great need to fundraise in the Delvin area, due to rising cost of healthcare.At the moment, two full time palliative care nurses and two part-time nurses serve the area, and two rooms have been sourced at the St. Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan, which are occupied most of the time.The cost of running and maintaining the service is high, so the local Hospice group look for as much support as possible for their fundraising activities. The Delvin group organises three main fundraisers every year: the table quiz, coffee morning and local participation in the Ladies" Mini-Marathon in Dublin each June.Last year, the group held a barbeque in Clonmellon, and it was a terrific succes, while a number of people have donated money in many different ways over the past year, supporting such initiatives as the Wren Boy collection, Christmas cards (designed by local artists), donations made in lieu of flowers at the request of bereaved families, and a sponsored Beard Shave. Local publicans have also kindly supported music, raffle and auction nights.The Hospice committee in Delvin looks for new ideas and suggestions to help them raise much needed funds during 2009. Their next fundraiser will be the forthcoming Honda Run on Sunday, March 1, with local Honda enthusiasts kindly deciding to donate some of the funds to the Hospice.Liz and Sean Conneelly, 'The Shops' in the Downs, are providing the Honda brigade with tea and refreshments at the half way mark during the run, which begins and ends in Delvin. The ladies of the Hospice group will provide a meal at the end of the race.The next meeting of Delvin Hospice Homecare takes place on Monday, February 16 at 8.30pm. All are welcome.Underage GAA QuizThe Delvin GAA Underage Committee are organising a table quiz for Friday, February 27 in Carmel Gaffney"s, in a bid to raise funds to purchase new equipment for the 2009 season.Tables of 4 cost €40 for adults and €20 for juveniles, and the Committee hopes that all supporters, especially those with juvenile members, can come along and give their support on the night. The quiz kicks off at 9pm.2009 St. Patrick"s ParadePlans for this year"s St. Patrick"s Festival Parade are in full motion, and this being the eleventh year for the Delvin parade, the committee hopes to have that something extra and special to offer residents of the village.While the committee arranges and books certain 'celebrity characters' each year, it has also been the colourful and inventive ideas of the locally-produced floats which have made this annual event such a success - just remember last year"s impressive dragon, which wowed the crowds.Down through the years, local businesses and associations have fervently competed against each other to win one of the many awards.The committee hopes to see the return of many of the participants from earlier parades. So if you have a business or association, whether you are local or from futher afield afield, taking part in other parades or just out for the craic, then forget the doom and gloom, and go mad for the day.For entry forms, contact McCormack"s Stores, Mick Kenny, John Gaffney or any committee member.This year the local 'Honda Enthusiasts' have very generously included the Delvin Parade Committee amoung the causes which they support.In turn, those organising the parade hope to help out in every way possible by providing stewards, bucket collectors, and people to man the various stop points for the forthcoming Honda Fun Run. The organisers of this event, which takes place on Sunday, March 1, require out-riders, support vehicles and warning vehicles to travel on the run. All assistance would be greatly appreciated.For more details, contact Gerry Flynn (087-6737684) or John Gaffney (087-2894647).