Home > News > Blanch Renault News > Blanchardstown Renault donates Clio to Hospice Fund Raiser

Blanchardstown Renault donates Clio to Hospice Fund Raiser - Dec. 6th 2005

Blanchardstown Renault is delighted to announce their support for the New St. Francis Hospice at Abbotstown. The company will be donating a Renault Clio III to the organisation’s prize draw.

Recently voted the no. 1 car in Europe the top of the range model is valued at €18,500. Speaking at the official ‘handing over’ ceremony at the Blanchardstown Centre, John Quilter, Director of Blanchardstown Renault, regarded the donation as ‘something to feel good about’. ‘We are delighted to support the good work carried out by the Hospice ’, he said, ‘ the service they provide is vital to the community and it is so important for us to give something back to ensure it’s future.’ ‘This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone in the locality to get on board and support an essential local service.’ ‘Along with the Clio there are a host fantastic prizes to be won, buying a ticket would make a wonderful Christmas present’.

Attending on the night were Minister Brian Lenihan TD, Sunday Games Analyst Colm O’Rourke, members and players from local clubs and societies; members of the Dublin and Meath Senior GAA football team; champion jockey Barry Geraghty and National Hunt Riders Denis O’Regan and Ross Geraghty. The sports stars have close ties with Blanchardstown Renault and they were delighted to lend their support on the night.

Currently based in Raheny, St. Francis Hospice has been providing the hospice services for the Dublin North West area since September 2001. In 2003 there were 3,030 visits by nursing staff to patients and their families in their homes in Dublin North West and over 70 patients were admitted to the In-Patient unit. A large number of patients also attended the Hospice Day Care in Raheny.

However, serving the needs of patients in the Dublin North West area from Raheny was not ideal and the need became for a dedicated hospice facility in this area.
A site for a new Hospice was identified in Dublin 15. The site has the capacity to accommodate the new Hospice buildings and also has proximity to James Connolly Memorial Hospital.
The new Hospice will include the three essential hospice services – Home Care, Hospice Day Care and In-Patient Unit. The new Hospice will be built to the same standard of excellence as the St. Francis Hospice in Raheny, which has won a number of architectural awards.

The Hospice will be under the management of St. Francis Hospice, who have a proven track record in providing an excellent standard of hospice care at Raheny since 1989.

While St. Francis Hospice receives some revenue funding from the Health Board to cover ongoing costs, it does not receive any funding towards capital expenditure, such as the building of the Dublin 15 Hospice. There is no charge for the services provided so the hospice very much relies on the generous support of the community. The projected cost of building the new Hospice is circa €15 Million – so a major and sustained fundraising effort was launched and is ongoing.

Pictured are Brian O'Rourke, Fleet Manger Blanchardstown Renault; Fr. Eugene Kennedy, St. Francis Hospice, and John Quilter, Director, Blanchardstown Renault.