Fundraiser Jenny is aiming high
A YOUNG Wexford woman who lost her brother to suicide, is fund raising for Pieta House and to help national campaigner Enda Doherty climb Africa’s highest peak carrying a washing machine.
Mum-of-two Jenny Carlyle, from Ballymurn, said that as part of her effort to reach her €4,000 target she is planning a fund raising night at Mooney’s, on Friday night, March 3, at which Wexford band Dynamo will be playing, followed by a DJ and a raffle on the night.
She said that in July, Enda O’Doherty intends to raise funds for Pieta House and to spread a positive mental health message by carrying a washing machine to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and she intends to be one of the people supporting him on the trek.
The washing machine symbolises the heavy load that many carry that is not seen by others and to spread the message that ‘It’s ok to ask for help.. just share the load’.
Enda requires a team of 30 people to travel with him to Kilimanjaro in order to reach his goal of raising €120,000 for Pieta House, €4,000 target each.
‘I have been asked to be one of those people. Every week, 10 people die from suicide in Ireland, It costs approximately €1,000 for an individual to go through Pieta House, if our group hits that target that is 120 lives potentially saved.
Jenny, who works at Eishtec in Wexford town, said she had always wanted to do something to help people who have lost someone to suicide or even better, prevent it.
‘As we sadly know it’s such an epidemic and it needs to be stopped and Pieta House are great. I couldn’t say no to this opportunity,’ she said.
Talking about losing her 17-year-old brother Ivan to suicide in 2008, she said he never showed any signs that ‘ this was how he felt’.
‘He was a happy, bubbly guy full of life and this was not what anyone expected.
‘Our family’s lives will never be the same, never hearing him laugh or tell jokes and that empty chair that will never be filled again. ‘It’s devastating,’ she said. ‘I want to stop other families going through what ours have, if I could save four families from suffering the pain have I would be happy. So if that means me climbing to the roof of Africa, I’ll do so,’ she said.
Donations can be made on https://pieta-challenge-2017.everydayhero.com/ie/jenny-s-pieta-challenge-2017 Make your step count and support Irish Cancer Society The Irish Cancer Society will be the official charity partner of this year’s Wexford Half Marathon and 10 km race on April 23.
The charity is there for cancer patients on every step of their journey, from diagnosis, throughout their cancer treatment and also supporting those who reach the end of their journey.
‘Cancer is one of the toughest challenges a person can face. And in Ireland this year, 40,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed,’ said Irish Cancer Society’s Head of Fundraising Mark Mellett.
Such services supporting cancer patients is the Irish Cancer Society’s Volunteer Driver Service, with a total of 261 journeys which were facilitated for 35 patients from Wexford who used the service in 2016.
‘ To continue to provide these services the Society is reliant on fundraising from members of the public. If you’re taking part in this year’s Wexford Half Marathon and 10 km you can make every step count and support those affected by cancer in your community,’ said Mark.
Wexford will welcome over 1,000 runners with all participants receiving a long sleeved top and a choice of medals at the finish line.
If you would like to run, jog or walk for the Irish Cancer Society you can contact the fundraising team on, 1850 60 60 60 to receive information and a fundraising pack.