Epic 225km charity walk begins this morning for new children’s hospice

A challenging 225km relay walk over 36 hours for the new Sunflower Children’s Hospice for the West gets underway at 10 a.m. this morning, Wednesday.

Employees from pharma company Pamex will set off on their ‘Linking Little Lives’ relay walk from Dublin to the site of the new Sunflower Children’s Hospice in Castlebar.

This significant distance mirrors the long and difficult journey families in the West of Ireland currently travel to access specialist children’s care in Dublin. Every step symbolically links Dublin with the new children’s hospice in Castlebar, representing the journey of care and emphasising the mission to bring essential services closer to home.

The Sunflower Children's Hospice will be the first children's hospice built outside Dublin and will provide specialist palliative and respite care for children and families in the West and beyond.

The ‘Linking Little Lives’ 225km walk passes through seven counties including Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. The relay route passes through several towns and cities including Mullingar, Maynooth, Athlone, Kilcock and Claremorris.

Special guests, including renowned national broadcaster, Miriam O’Callaghan and Mayo/Roscommon Hospice CEO, Martina Jennings will see the relay team off.

On the eve of the epic fundraising walk, Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation has announced that it submitted a planning application to Mayo County Council for the pioneering €14 million facility.

Upon reaching Castlebar, the Pamex Ltd team will host a Family Fun Day, bringing together employees, local schools, families, and the wider community in support of this meaningful cause. Their campaign has already raised more than €16,000 through a series of fundraising initiatives, including a Family Day in Portarlington, a wine and cheese evening, a schools colouring competition across Mayo and Galway, and generous contributions from Pamex corporate partners.

Every donation will help bring vital care services closer to children and families across the West of Ireland. Funds will directly support the development of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice, a dedicated facility that will provide specialist palliative and respite care for children and young people living with life-limiting illnesses, alongside emotional, practical, and bereavement support for families across the region.

The eight-bed hospice will include family accommodation, hydrotherapy baths, sensory and play therapy rooms, garden access for each room, and an on-site multidisciplinary team delivering round-the-clock specialist care in a warm, family-centred environment.

Tom Murphy of Pamex Ltd, said: “We are immensely proud to launch the ‘Linking Little Lives’ Relay Walk in support of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice. This event is a powerful expression of our commitment, mirroring Pamex’s mission to make a positive difference in people’s lives through our healthcare work.  The walk symbolically links Dublin with Castlebar, reflecting the crucial journey families must take, and with every step, our team is doing their utmost to ensure a substantial financial contribution is raised to help make the new Children's Hospice a reality here in Castlebar.”

Martina Jennings, CEO Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said: “We are incredibly thankful to the Pamex team for taking on the ‘Linking Little Lives’ Relay Walk in support of the new Sunflower Children’s Hospice. 

"Their remarkable 225km journey from Dublin to Castlebar highlights the challenging distances many families must travel to access specialist care. As a family-owned healthcare company in the West of Ireland, Pamex’s support reflects the compassion and community spirit that underpin our mission. The commitment and generosity shown by the Pamex team, alongside partnerships like this, move us one step closer to turning this vital vision into a reality for families across the Western Seaboard.”

To make a donation, visit idonate.ie/donate/fundraiser/linkinglittlelives