Offaly man sky dives for youth suicide prevention

BIRR man Mick Egan recently enjoyed a successful sky dive for charity, heading up in a small plane from Clonbullogue airfield and leaping from 10,000 feet.

“It was a great experience,” Mick told the Tribune, “and the team in Clonbullogue were fantastic - very professional, good humoured and calm.”

Mick feels deeply about the blight of suicide in our country and he decided to do the sky dive to raise awareness of this major problem and to raise funds for a charity as well. The charity is Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland (YSPI). Mick pointed out that every 500 Euros raised for YSPI allows three hundred more students to receive mental health awareness and suicide training directly in their schools. YSPI says that youth mental health is a critical issue which “demands our attention and open dialogue.”

Mick thanked everyone who financially supported his sky dive. “People were so generous,” he remarked. “I got great support when I held a fundraising day in SuperValu Birr. Overall, I've raised €1,435 which is well over what I was aiming over; so I'm very happy.”