Two NUI Galway students have raised €1,729 for local charity Galway Simon Community through an innovative ‘Helping Haircuts’ initiative.
Felix O Murchadha and John Flannery spent 2020 fundraising and raising awareness to remove the stigma surrounding homelessness in Galway, but also wanting to do something practical, they provided free haircuts to men supported by Galway Simon’s services.
The pair had also planned a number of fundraising events for the ‘Helping Haircuts’ initiative, but due to Covid-19 they were cancelled. However, they continued to raise funds and awareness through their online fundraising page and social media presence. In addition, they also secured much-needed PPE and sanitiser from a local pharmacy on Galway Simon’s behalf.
In December 2020, the student duo also ran an innovating fundraising campaign called ‘Suit up for Simon’ which called on people to get suited up in formal wear for dinner at home with their housemates or families, to post about it on social media, and make a donation to Galway Simon.
Commenting on their initiative, O Murchadha and Flannery say the power of community has become more and more evident.
"Nothing we have achieved would have been possible without the support of the amazing people of Galway. We hope to continue our work, removing the stigma surrounding homelessness and spreading joy within our community.”
Amy Lavelle, community and youth partnerships coordinator at Galway Simon Community, says the two students are an inspiration.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Felix and John on this wonderful initiative, and we are deeply grateful for all they have done to raise awareness and funds in support of those facing homelessness in these difficult times," she says.
"From our first meeting back in February 2020, I found their enthusiasm to help others to be infectious. To think of all they have done since then to support and promote well-being in the community is truly inspirational and we can’t ever thank or praise them both enough."
One hundred per cent of the funds raised by ‘Helping Haircuts’ directly supported Galway Simon Community’s health and well-being fund which helps people experiencing homelessness access the physical and mental health supports they need to help them on their journey out of homelessness.
