Granard family presents €20,000 to suicide charity
‘There were lots of tears – some of sadness but also many tears of joy’ - Johanna O'Hara
Johanna, John, Oisín and Liam O’Hara recently presented a cheque for €20,000 to Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland (YSPI) following a talk given by YSPI on their four steps to help programme to the senior students in Cnoc Mhuire, Granard.
In June of this year, the O’Hara family organised a fundraising walk in memory of their beloved eldest son Niall, who tragically died by suicide in March 2019, aged 20.
‘Walk a mile in memory of Niall’ raised €62,350 and on Tuesday, October 18, prior to the Cnoc Mhuire event, Johanna and John also presented suicide bereavement charity HUGG (Healing Untold Grief Groups) with a cheque for €42,350.
‘Walk a mile in memory of Niall’ followed the 150km route from the O’Hara home in Muckerstaff, Longford to Maynooth University, where Niall was an Arts student within both the Geography and Computer Science Department.
Johanna explained, “It is an experience we will never forget. An opportunity to reconnect, have conversations, even difficult ones, made easier whilst surrounded by nature.
“There were lots of tears – some of sadness but also many tears of joy. In the words of our good friend Ryan Tubridy, who very kindly joined us one of the days ‘your walk is everything Covid wasn’t, human connection and big warm hugs.’”
Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland (YSPI) is a registered charity. It provides mental health awareness programmes to schools and colleges as well as suicide awareness information and resources to teachers, lecturers, social workers, gardaí, and many other people including voluntary organisations who work regularly with young people.
They are the only youth orientated national suicide charity working for young people up to the age of 22.
Johanna said, “We are so grateful to everyone who generously donated and to everyone who joined us on our walk making it a very memorable experience.
“We are delighted to present a cheque to YSPI, an organisation working very hard to combat suicide and create mental health awareness.”
The donation from Niall’s walk will help,
•Bring their services and talks to more schools, colleges, and youth organisations
•Provide face to face workshops with 4th, 5th, and 6th year students in a safe and supportive environment
•Provide Mental health awareness and suicide prevention training courses for teachers, lecturers, coaches, youth workers, Gardaí etc.
•Provide Educational resources including lesson plans, teacher guidance and crisis support services for schools
If you would like more information or wish to schedule a talk or workshop in your school or workplace, please contact www.yspi.ie or 1800 828 888