‘Hospice Hero’ award to Serena for her fundraising activities

OUR Lady’s Hospice & Care Services has awarded a ‘Hospice Hero Community Fundraising Award’ to Serena Keating from Lucan for her fundraising efforts on behalf of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services.

Now in its second year, the Awards acknowledge the significant contribution of community fundraising events in supporting Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services’ delivery of vital care across the communities it serves.

Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services is Ireland’s largest provider of palliative care and serves a catchment area of a million people from its bases in Harold’s Cross, Blackrock and Wicklow.

Serena was recognised for establishing the ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone” Memory Walk, in memory of her brother, Wesley Keating, who died from a brain tumour in 2018. Since 2019, the annual event takes place in Phoenix Park and has raised €48,000, including €15,544 raised in 2022.

Karen Gallagher, Interim Director of Fundraising and Communications at Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services said: “These special awards recognise events organised by people in the community who show their support for our work by coming up with ideas that capture the hearts and minds of their friends, families and neighbours.

“The walk that Serena has established in memory of her brother has clearly done that and we are very grateful of her ongoing support, and that of those who have taken part in the walk. We thank all of those who support us in this way and appreciate all the time and effort put in.

“We rely heavily on donations from the community to support our services and develop our facilities.”

Serena Keating said: “Weso was 27 when he passed away. Although it was deeply sad and before his time, our family is forever grateful for the support and care we all received from Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services in his final days.

“I wanted to remember my brother in a special way and the Memory Walk has grown from strength to strength since 2019.

“As well as remembering my brother, it provides a space for others in the community to remember their loved ones and raise funds for the continuation of the important work of Our Lady’s Hospice & care Services”, she added.