Kilbeggan Races to show support for hospice campaign at Sunday's meeting
Hooves4Hospice, the fundraising campaign behind a proposed new Hospice for the Midlands region, said it's delighted to be associated with the Kilbeggan Summer Festival of Racing which takes place this bank holiday weekend (Sunday, June 5).
The Race Card will feature the 'New Midland Hospice Beginners Steeplechase' among what promises to be a thrilling evening of racing.
This event, along with the generosity of the Midlands farming, business and school community, is another project highlighting the fundraising efforts of Hooves4Hospice towards the building of a 16 bedded Level 3 Hospice for the Midlands.
The new hospice would be located in Tullamore, and the project is being supported by Midland Lions Clubs and the Irish Hospice Foundation. The Midlands is currently the only region of Ireland that does not have a Level 3 hospice.
Last December, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced the allocation of €1 million to progress the development of the facility.
The chairperson of the project, Pat Lalor, this week thanked Paddy Dunican, Manager of Kilbeggan Racecourse, along with his committee and Horse Racing Ireland, for their commitment and support.
"Their generosity in allowing us to promote our project at one of their premier race meetings is very much appreciated by everybody involved," he said.
The Hooves4Hospice campaign involves farmers being asked to donate a young animal that they or a host farmer will rear for 12 to 18 months.
When that donated animal is sold, the proceeds will go directly into the Midland Hospice Building Fund.
Some farmers will donate and rear their own animal, while others will donate an animal which will be placed with and reared by a host farmer.
The Lions Club will purchase young animals, where necessary, to be placed on host farms. Members of the public can contribute to the cost of purchasing these animals by making a donation through the web site: www.h4h.midlandhospice.ie
Kilbeggan Racecourse said it was "pleased to support this very worthwhile initiative."