Mayo hospice hero honoured

MAYO Roscommon Hospice Foundation has honoured Joan Bourke as their 2026 Hospice Hero for her many years of fundraising service on behalf of the hospice.

Joan received the award from Hospice Sunflower Days ambassador Miriam O’Callaghan at a special ceremony in St. Francis Hospice, Dublin, to coincide with the Hospice Sunflower Days 2026 campaign launch.

Joan leads the Ballina Support Group, organises volunteers and stock for the Hospice Sunflower Days collections, delivers and collects packs for coffee morning and looks after all the hospice coin collection boxes in the town. She is truly dedicated and devoted to her work for the hospice foundation.

This year marks the 36th year of the Hospice Sunflower Days campaign with the on-street collections taking place from June 11 to 13, raising vital funds for hospice and palliative care services, and every euro raised locally, stays locally. You can also show your support by donating to your chosen hospice online via the website, www.sunflowerdays.ie.

Martina Jennings, CEO, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, commented: “We are thrilled to be able to acknowledge Joan’s hard work & dedication to Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation by awarding her as our Hospice Hero. Joan has been a volunteer for the Foundation for 32 years, and goes above and beyond for all campaigns, as well as volunteering in our Ballina Hospice shop.

“We are calling on everyone from the region to join Joan to help us to raise vital funds for the hospice during Hospice Sunflower Days 2026. Every little donated really does make a big difference.”

If you would like to volunteer to help Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation with their on-street collections this June please contact the fundraising team today on (094) 938 8666.