Emergency personnel walk the roads for mental health charities

EMERGENCY service personnel raised a total of €8,500 for Aware and Pieta House last week, having walked 275km in south Leinster over six days.

The fundraising initiative by ‘Rescue Organisation Ireland’ was created in May, to help raise awareness and funds for the mental health charities and their life saving work.

Over the final leg on Saturday, participants were in County Wicklow, with celebrations in

Arklow, Wicklow and Greystones before they reached the finish line in Bray.

Bray’s Order of Malta unit supported their colleagues in the emergency services as they made their way to the finish line, where there were refreshments, live music, and a few short speeches.

Supporters came out to congratulate members of the fire service, ambulance service, coast guard, civil defence and other services on their great achievement.

The organising committee from Rescue Organisation Ireland (ROI) thanked the public and volunteers for their support and donations throughout the week.

The walk started at Dublin Fire Brigade HQ on Monday morning, and took in Wicklow, Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois and Wexford.

‘ The organisation committee lead by myself would especially like to thank Mr Aidan Dempsey, Chief Fire Officer in Wicklow, and Mr Dennis Keeley,

Chief Fire Officer in Dublin Fire Brigade for hosting the start and finish,’ said Michael Gahan, director of operations at ROI.

‘We would also like to thank the public for their support and much needed donations now at almost €8,500 and growing on our donations page along with a significant number 7of text donations that have been received by ALONE and Pieta House.’

Donations can still be made at idonate.ie/ROIFrontlinetoFinishline.=

Michael Gahan (Wicklow’s Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer) addressing the group at the finish.

A group of all the participants (One member from each service that took part in the foreground).

The Lally brothers with their dad Pat. From left: Ryan, Dean, Pat, Adam and Ross Lally.

From left: Rhys holding Ebony, Eppie, Evanna, Keisha and Abie Lally.

Bray Fire Station Officer Ross Lally with his daughter Evanna.

Wexford based Anthony Byrne (Vice Chair of Rescue Organisation Ireland and Ambulance Officer with National Ambulance Service) addressing the group at the finish.