Giving hygiene products, going on walks, getting dressed up for galas … some of the ways you can support these Irish charities
Walk This Way
Sign up to walk 5km on Friday, September 9, in support of the Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses, a free service that provides end-of-life care to those living with cancer in Ireland. The walk takes place in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, or else you can sign up to complete your own 5km walk at a location around the country on the same day. Visit www.bootsnightwalk.com to make a donation or sign up (€15 entry).
Honour World Suicide Prevention Day
Saturday, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a poignant day for the co-founders of Irish non-profit Share Joy Anne Marie Tomchak and Marie O’Sullivan. This initiative is in honour of Marie’s daughter Arwen who died through suicide in March 2020. The aim of ShareJoy is also to share the joy of pre-loved fashion for the benefit of mental health. As we know, millions of euro worth of clothing is sitting dormant in our wardrobes. Many Irish personalities such as Colin Horgan, Aisling Bea, Roz Purcell, Celia Holman Lee and Chupi have donated items to ShareJoy, available via Depop with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Pieta House – last year they raised nearly €30,000. Why not have a look and also do some decluttering to help. As Anne Marie Tomchak says, “At the end of the day this is all about the love of a mother for their child, and that’s what’s front and centre of this. Everything else comes second to that”. www.sharejoy.ie
Book this fashion show at Kildare Village in aid of Barretstown
Mark Thursday, September 22 in the diary for a special fashion event in aid of Barretstown, which offers free specially designed camps and programmes for children and their families living with a serious illness such as cancer. Since opening in 1994, the camps have welcomed over 70,000 children; www.barretstown.org. Organised by Saba Restaurant Kildare Village and Curated by Design, the glossy evening event starts at 5.30pm with a cocktail reception followed by dinner during which guests will be treated to a preview of autumn collections, hosted by stylist Marietta Doran. Special guest will be designer Paul Costelloe. After the show, guests can enjoy an exclusive hour of private shopping at the Curated by Design Centre For those wishing to attend, a complimentary transfer will be available leaving The Westbury hotel Dublin at 4 pm and returning to the Westbury that evening with a 9:30 pm departure time from Kildare Village. Tickets are priced at €120 and include a welcome cocktail, wine, a three-course dinner and the fashion event. Tickets can be purchased from Saba Restaurant, please book directly by clicking here. Tickets are limited.
Join StepTember
Emma Fogarty, pictured, was born with EB (epidermolysis bullosa), which causes her skin to blister and wound at the slightest touch. She has been inspired to overcome the pain barrier and participate in Debra Ireland’s “StepTember” fundraiser in aid of EB. Participants are being asked to complete 300,000 steps – 10,000 steps a day – during September to raise funds for EB sufferers. Although Emma is physically unable to walk and uses a wheelchair she says with the help of her assistant Georgina Herlihy, she will be pushed the equivalent of 10,000 steps a week during September. Last year, the fundraiser, which helps Debra Ireland support patients and their families, raised more than €130,000 – helping to fund vital research, nursing and patient support and family care. The charity supports 300 people in Ireland living with the rare and debilitating skin disease. If you can join Emma for StepTember sign up for €30 here.
Make a donation to The Hygiene Bank
Ahead of National Hygiene Week, from September 12-18, which aims to raise awareness about hygiene poverty and its impact on those affected, Boots Ireland has a new partnership with The Hygiene Bank Ireland and is providing drop off points in ten stores around the country. These include five in Dublin: Dundrum, Carrickmines, Swords, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown in addition to Letterkenny Retail Park, Letterkenny, two locations in Cork – Blackpool and Half Moon Street – as well as Shop Street, Galway and Abbey Street, Wicklow Town.
People are invited to donate a range of unopened and unused products such as dental products, deodorants, body wash, nappies, baby wipes, razors and shaving foam, period products, hairbrushes, shampoos and conditioners. Ciára Dalton, of The Hygiene Bank Ireland explains: “Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living, yet with 640,000 people at risk of poverty and the cost of living on the rise, hygiene products can often be at the bottom of the shopping list for people who are struggling to make ends meet. The impact of this can be immense. A child might be bullied for going to school with matted hair because the family doesn’t have a hairbrush, or a woman might not leave the house for several days each month as she doesn’t have period products. As the national charity for hygiene poverty, The Hygiene Bank Ireland is dedicated to working towards eradicating this problem while supporting those most at-risk of hygiene poverty with the products they need. That’s why our new partnership with Boots Ireland is so important as it will see our network of drop-off points increase.” For further information visit www.thehygienebank.com.
Oisín Scollard, pictured, has spoken about the importance of talking about mental health ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day. Oisín lost his brother, Cormac, to suicide in 2003. In 2009, Oísin and his other brother, Diarmuid, set up Turn2Me, a national mental health charity that offers free, professional, mental health services 365 days a year.
“Suicide is an outcome that no-one can change, talking about it and encouraging change, is.” Oisín said, “It’s a permanent decision to what are often temporary problems. Every life lost to suicide shatters so many other lives. Families, friends, and colleagues can often blame themselves, or wonder why they didn’t spot the signs, or if they could have done more. I would encourage anyone who is feeling anxious or depressed to talk to someone they trust. If you don’t think you can confide in anyone you know, Turn2Me offers free, professional mental health services which run 365 days a year.”
Oisín said that Turn2Me has gone from strength to strength since it was founded and has helped over 110,000 people in Ireland. It is supported by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention and runs free one-to-one counselling sessions; free support groups on anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship issues; and a free “Thought Catcher” mood diary which runs every day from 2pm until 8pm – all available on the Turn2Me website, Turn2Me.ie. He said one of his proudest achievements is that there are no waiting lists for the support groups or to use the ‘Thought Catcher’ service, and many people find these services a great support on their own or between counselling sessions. To find out more visit www.Turn2Me.ie.
Join the Donegal Camino
The Donegal Camino is underway this week and finishes on September 10. Its primary aim is to exceed the €26,000 raised in 2021 for Cancer Care West Support Centre based in Letterkenny, Donegal. A secondary aim is to showcase the stunning walking and hiking routes from Inishowen in the north east of the county to the splendour of the Slieve League Cliffs in the south west and selected Gaeltacht regions. From moderate to challenging walks, the Donegal Camino has something for all levels of fitness and the traditional Camino ethos is at the heart of the week for all walkers. If you want to remember a family member, or simply take time out from your busy life, the Donegal Camino will give this to you. Each day will finish with the best of Donegal food, entertainment and hospitality. To book your Donegal Camino, log onto www.donegalcamino.ie daily walking rates are €30.
Participate in this Harvest Moon Charity Ball
For those wishing to enjoy a glamorous evening out in the name of a good cause, October 15 will see the return of Killruddery’s annual Harvest Moon Charity Ball in aid of Their Lives Matter, in aid of children suffering with cancer in Tanzania; www.wearetlm.org. A charity close to Killruddery’s heart, Lady Fionnuala Aston-Ardee is a proud ambassador for the charity, which was founded by Bray native, Dr Trish Scanlan. This event will follow Lady Ardee’s trip to Tanzania; she will travel there for the first time since the pandemic to visit the charity’s base and meet Tanzanian artist, Vensa Temu, who will be donating some of his artwork to the art raffle on the evening. He has also been invited to complete a two week residency as part of the Estate’s Artist in Residency programme. Tickets for the event are €130 which includes a drinks reception in The Orangery, a three course meal, art raffle, music and dancing until late. To book the Harvest Moon Ball visit www.killruddery.com.
Enjoy the Kenya Ball
The Kenya Ball is one of the highlights of the Cork social calendar and is held in aid of Brighter Communities Worldwide, an Irish charity working in Kenya, delivering health, education and income generating programmes. This year’s ball, which coincides with its 20th anniversary, is on Saturday, November 12 at Rochestown Park Hotel. Guests will enjoy a pre-dinner drinks reception before dinner and dancing to the popular Love Junkies. Maria Kidney, co-founder of BCW explains: “Our goal has always been to provide communities with equal opportunities, supporting them to create brighter futures. Right now, the communities we work with across Kericho County, Kenya are struggling in so many ways; from Covid-19, which is far from over, severe drought brought on by climate change and unprecedented poverty levels accelerated by the Ukraine conflict and global recession. Can you imagine what a struggle this is for families living without the basics of water, electricity, health care, income? They have no back up, no savings, no assistance packages – just their own will to carry on and do the best they can.” There are so many ways to help if you can’t make the ball – from donating a prize to becoming a sponsor and spreading the word. For more information visit www.brightercommunities.org and to buy a ticket, €85, visit www.eventbrite.ie.
Take part in this art auction
Founded in Dublin in November 2017 by Sophie Murphy, taproot_art is an experimental project which sources contemporary art for enthusiasts, hosts exhibitions and organises benefit auctions. Its third benefit auction is a visual banquet and is entirely fruit-themed – featuring art and photography from leading Irish and international artists including Robyn Carey, Neil Dunne, Blaise Cepis, Peter Doyle (work pictured above) and Shane Berkery. Fifty per cent of the proceeds will go towards Merchants Quay Ireland, to help the ongoing homelessness crisis. The auction will take place on September 17 at Mart Gallery & Studios (Rathmines, Dublin 6), during which there will be music from DJ/producer Drua and lots of fruity refreshments (from Claw and Caterway grocers). The auction will be free to attend, and attendees can RSVP on the eventbrite page here. To find out more about the auction visit www.taprootart.com.
