PREM Group Supports Together For Hospice, Urging Others To Follow Suit
We are delighted to support ‘Together For Hospice’ and calling on businesses across Ireland to join this fundraising drive in support of hospices this April.
Together For Hospice is the national fundraising body for 24 specialist hospice and palliative care providers across Ireland, supporting both in-patient and community-based services. Funds raised help enable frontline services, including in-patient hospice units and specialist palliative homecare, ensuring that patients receive high-quality care in their own homes or within hospice facilities.
This charity is particularly close to the heart of Seán Graham, our Chief Information Officer, who experienced first-hand the ‘phenomenal care’ provided by hospice staff. Seán’s father, Brendan Graham (87), passed away under the care of St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
We are proudly supporting the inaugural ‘Your Finest Hour for Hospice’ campaign. In April, our employees will receive a treat, and in return, staff members are encouraged to donate an hour’s salary, or whatever they can afford, to St. Francis Hospice.
Organisers, Together For Hospice, aim to spark a nationwide workplace charity initiative, involving with more than 100 companies raising vital funds across Ireland this April.
“Unless people witness it, they don’t know how unbelievable hospice is” said Seán “It’s a phenomenal organisation, none of the care is means tested, there’s no cost, they simply take the pressure off grieving families.”
Seán, a father of two from Clane, Co. Kildare, spoke about his father’s journey. Brendan, a former Guinness worker from Ashtown, Dublin, entered St. Francis Hospice in 2021 following a cancer diagnosis and passed away there in September of that year.
“My last words to dad were ‘thank you so much for everything you ever did for us” I feel tremendously lucky to have had that experience. “The dignity that they showed to a man in his final hours; the three words I constantly use in relation to Hospice are love, dignity and respect. Nothing was too much, and no detail was overlooked.”
We are the first major company to pledge support for ‘Your Finest Hour for Hospice’, responding to data that shows that the 24 hospices nationwide that make up Together For Hospice must raise in the region of €20 million annually to continue operating.
With Ireland’s over-65 population set to triple over the next 30 years, the demand for hospice services continues to rise. In 2023 alone, hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers cared for over 14,000 patients and carried out more than 87,000 home visits.
How Businesses Can Get Involved?
To participate in this initiative, employers are encouraged to treat their teams to an office takeaway, a wellbeing hour, or simply an hour off work on a date of their choosing throughout the month of April 2025. In return, employees donate an hour’s salary to Together For Hospice.
Companies and employees, whether working together or contributing individually, can register their support at: www.finesthour.ie. Registered firms will receive a digital information pack, and every cent raised by local businesses will go directly to their local hospices.
“I would encourage as many companies and individuals as possible to jump on board” said Seán. “We take so much for granted in life, the hospice teams around Ireland are a gift in people’s final hours.”
The Pat Kenny Show - Newstalk
To highlight the vital role of hospice care and the significance of the Together for Hospice campaign, Fintan Fagan, CEO of St. Francis Hospice, and Seán Graham, whose late father received compassionate care at the facility, joined The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.
During their appearance, they discussed the importance of fundraising initiatives like these, which contribute directly to enhancing hospice services across Ireland. Their conversation emphasised how corporate support, including donations and public advocacy, can inspire others to get involved and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families.
