The mum of Kerry teenager Donal Walsh, who spent the last months of his life launching an inspirational campaign against teen suicide, is to speak at this year’s Knock Novena.
Elma Walsh will address thousands of pilgrims on Wednesday, August 20, in Knock Baslica during the biggest week of the year at the Marian shrine.
Her son Donal battled cancer three times in his short life before he passed away, at just 16, on May 12, 2013.
In the final months of his life, Donal had become a passionate anti-suicide campaigner and took to the national airwaves to appeal to his peers not to take their own lives.
Donal began writing about his battle with cancer and spoke about how hard he had to fight every day for his life, following his third cancer diagnosis in 2012.
He wrote about teen suicide and it was one of these articles, entitled ‘Suicide Plea’, which came to national and international prominence.
Donal appeared on the Saturday Night Show with Brendan O’Connor, issuing his heartfelt appeal to young people to fight for lives instead of giving in to suicide.
Following his death, Donal’s family launched the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation to raise awareness about age appropriate teenage facilities in Irish hospitals and to further promote his anti-suicide message.
Elma Walsh’s talk is entitled ‘Living Life to the Full’.
The Knock Novena, which attracts some 15,000 pilgrims annually, takes place this year from August 14 to 22.
