Mayor’s Ball to raise vital funds for hospice and orphanage

A hospice unit which helps an average of 120 patients per month will be one of the beneficiaries of an annual fundraiser in Waterford City.

Up to 500 people are expected to attend the annual Mayor’s Ball in April, which is regarded as one of the city’s social events of the year but also an important funding stream for a number of charities.

This year the beneficiaries of the event, hosted by mayor Cllr Pat Hayes, will be an orphanage in Tanzania, a historic care home for the elderly in Waterford and the Waterford Hospice Movement, established in 1998.

A not-for-profit organisation serving Waterford city and county as well as south Kilkenny, the movement provides palliative care for patients with life-threatening illnesses and costs about €588,000 to run each year.

Over 60% of the money has to be raised through donations and fundraising, with the balance provided by the HSE.

A professional care team is based at the hospice offices in Waterford Regional Hospital and includes a nurse manager, clinical nurse specialists and complementary therapists, supported by a voluntary board and steering committee. All care is provided free of charge.

The Waterford Hospice Movement is working with the HSE on the development of a 20-bed inpatient hospice unit at the regional hospital.

Meanwhile, the Holy Ghost Residential Home has operated under a royal charter, granted by King Henry VIII, since the 16th century.

Previously run by the Sisters of St John of God, who were involved for almost 100 years, it now has a lay management structure and cares for older adults from the Waterford area in a 60-bedroom facility.

The ethos of the non-profit home involves supporting independent living with care that responds to the specific needs of older adults to protect their quality of life.

Part-funded by the HSE and run by a board of trustees, the home relies on local fundraising to maintain the facility.

Located in Boman’gombe in Tanzania, the non-profit Tír na nÓg Orphanage (Kao La Amani) was founded in 2007 by Kerry woman Louise Quill. A local couple are the primary carers at the facility, while the orphanage is also staffed by dedicated Tanzanian carers who treat the children as they would their own. Waterford woman Sharon Quinlan has visited the orphanage as a volunteer since 2007.

The Ball takes place on April 21 at the Kingfisher Club on Waterford’s Tramore Road.