Million step challenge raises over €14,000 for Pieta House
EACH year, the Darkness Into Light walk for Pieta House is something that garners huge support from the people of Wexford. Sadly this year, like so many other fundraisers, it fell victim to Covid-19 restrictions, leaving a large gap in the finances of the mental health charity.
It was with this in mind that Killinick native Jordan Broaders decided to try and help to offset some of the financial shortfall.
Like so many fundraisers of this type, it started with a glance at his FitBit.
‘I was out walking and myself and the girlfriend kind of compete with how many steps we do in a day,’ he explained. ‘I thought, I should take on some kind of challenge for steps in a day for Pieta House. It’s a great cause and I knew that with Darkness Into Light not able to happen this year, they were down huge money due to Covid-19.’
The idea grew legs and Jordan decided to rope in the help of nine other family members and friends, with the goal of hitting one million steps on the day Darkness Into Light was to take place. It broke down to 100,000 steps each or 80km in 24 hours.
‘We had done no real training for it,’ Jordan laughed. ‘There were plenty of casualties and blisters along the way, but we all made it. One person, Tony McDonnell, even did it in Sydney, Australia. It was strange doing it when we were all separated, but we were on the phones to each other urging each other on.’
As well as taking donations, the gang also invited people to donate their steps, should one of the crew fall victim to any kind of injury. The result was that, with donated steps, they ended up with over four million!
The idea seems to have been a popular one among the public and having gained the support of the likes of football legend
Paul McGrath and rugby legend Sean O’Brien, the gang managed to raise over €14,000 for Pieta House.
‘It was absolutely brilliant how people got behind us,’ a delighted Jordan said. ‘We were delighted to be able to do our bit for a wonderful cause. It’s one that’s close to so many people’s hearts and unfortunately, most of us have been impacted in some way or other by suicide.’