Support for hospice flowers

THOUSANDS of sunflowers will be sold as part of a campaign launched yesterday to raise vital funds for hospice care services for people who are dying or seriously ill.

The annual Hospice Sunflower Days 2006 is aiming to raise money to support patients and their families in need of home help and specialist palliative care.

Eugene Murray, chief executive of the Irish Hospice Foundation, said: “Almost 30,000 people die annually in Ireland and over 6,000 people use hospice services every year.