Hundreds of people will take to the streets of Swinford in Mayo for Console’s inaugural Suicide Prevention and Postvention Memorial Walk which will be started by local Councillor Joe Mellett.
Console is calling on families, friends, school friends and work colleagues to take to the streets of Mayo for the Console Memorial Walk in aid of the Suicide Bereaved and Suicide Prevention Service.
The charity is hoping that people from every county in Ireland will seize the opportunity to take part in the 6.5 kilometre challenge and help raise funds for families whose lives have been torn apart as a result of the loss of a loved one through suicide and those in suicidal crisis, in its newly opened centre in Tullinahoo, Midfield, Swinford, Co Mayo.
The annual memorial walk entitled ‘Walking in memory of our loved ones’ takes place on Sunday September 16 at 2pm. The starting point is at The Gateway Hotel in Swinford and the route leads up Main Street, past Tesco, around by Aras Attracta, and down Park Road turning right up to the bypass, left down the bypass turning into Swinford at Pat Kelly’s garage, walking back by Swinford Hospital to the Gateway Hotel, where weary walkers can enjoy celebratory refreshments in The Gateway Hotel. Margaret Tierney of Console said: “Fundraising events such as the Console Memorial Walk are at the request of family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide and this event is crucial to maintain suicide bereavement services in Mayo. Console is a national organisation with centres in Galway, Limerick, Wexford, Cork, Athlone, and Dublin.”
Margaret Tierney pointed out that all money raised in Mayo stays in the Swinford Centre and Console is actively looking at opening outreach centres in Ballina and Castlebar. Console must raise 100 per cent of the funding for Mayo and this it does through fundraising initiatives.
Margaret Tierney stated that she is overwhelmed at the tremendous response from the people of Mayo and bordering region to what Console have planned for the future. “We are very aware that everyone has to tighten their belts and are being asked for money from every angle, so we really appreciate any support, even if supporters only raise a very small amount,” she said.
“Seeing the devastation of families whose lives will never be the same again inspires us to keep going and provide the support that we can. It all adds up, so we really do literally value every euro that sponsorship can raise.”
All money raised from the walk will go towards offering counselling and support to families and children bereaved through suicide, and those in suicidal crisis, in the Mayo facility in Swinford.
Console offers a 24 hour free phone national helpline (1800 201 890 ) for those bereaved through suicide and a 24 hour free phone national suicide prevention helpline 1 Life (1800 247 100 ) for those in suicidal crisis.
For further information or sponsorship packs, contact Margaret Tierney on 091 744522, 087 797 8130, email [email protected]
