A kind-hearted Dublin great-granny celebrated three decades of hosting coffee mornings to fundraise for her local hospice.
Stephanie Graham revealed how she raised a whopping €5,000 after she was forced to move the event to her Terenure garden during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, on the 30th anniversary of the fundraiser, Stephanie spoke of how she started the coffee mornings with her close friend Joan Merrigan after a family friend moved to Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services in Harold’s Cross for palliative care.
She said: "I was around the Hospice so often that I was asked by one of the staff to help with fundraising and that is how it all began. My coffee mornings began as very small affairs, raising £200. We thought we were great when we went on to raise £500."
Read more: Musician starts fundraiser to get laptops for students in direct provision
Speaking from her home alongside her family, Stephanie said the money raised soared when she decided to serve drinks and snacks from her garden when the pandemic struck. Last year, she raised a staggering €5,000 for Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services.
Stephanie joined thousands of other hosts across Ireland who took part in Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice. This year, Stephanie hopes to raise even more when donations are counted from today’s fundraiser and an earlier one they hosted last Saturday.
She added: "It has become a bit of a local social event over the years. I live on the main road and people passing stop to offer a donation without having any coffee."
The former insurance company secretary said: "Personally, there has always been something special to me about a Hospice nurse and I feel lucky to play a small part in the wonderful work they do."
You can donate here if you want to support the 30th-anniversary fundraising effort for Hospice.
Read next:
Signed Dublin jersey up for grabs to fund life-changing operation for 'miracle baby'
Charlie Bird says he is 'blown away' by tributes as he celebrates milestone 73rd birthday
Ballyfermot man to shave beard for first time in four years for charity
Woman running 100km for husband with MND who 'can't hold daughter's hand'
Dubliners urged to walk together for friends and neighbours living with Alzheimer’s
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
