This article is from page 27 of the 2008-04-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
THE third annual 10km walk in aid of suicide awareness takes place in Ennis on April 22.
This year’s event is being organised to raise money for the Ennis based support group, Living Links.
A poker night, also in aid of Living Links, takes place in Ennis on Friday April 18.
Ennis student Sasha O’Brien is the woman behind the event. Along with her uncles, Keith Molloy and Gerry O’Brien, Sasha has championed the cause of suicide awareness, in a bid to encourage greater debate and highlight the impact of suicide on
bereaved families.
Sasha explained the campaign has received great support. “It has been brilliant since we started it. I’ve got great help from my uncles. We just wanted to get people talking about it. We had an event there recently, and I must have had about 20 people com- ing up to me, who had been affected by suicide, and they were really de- lighted with what we are doing.
Sasha’s efforts were recognised last year when she was among 20 Irish students to be nominated for a Pra- merica Spirit of Community Award.
The Pramerica Spirit of Commu- nity Awards programme recognises and rewards post-primary/second-
level students for volunteer work car- ried out in their communities.
For the past six years the Living Links organisation has offered a suicide outreach support service to families and individuals in Clare who have been bereaved by suicide. SU ilcceTKcMC ISRO NON MNCOOUMBRUDUKanRe-BDO Tere! volunteers staffing the service in Ee
Clare Living Links operates under the auspices of the Health Service Executive and all volunteers are ful- ly trained.
In addition to healing programmes volunteers respond to approaches made by a bereaved family or in- dividual and can arrange to meet
them inside or outside their homes or wherever the bereaved person feels most comfortable. All meetings are conducted with complete confiden- SEUOIAYs
The 10km walk will take in a route around Ennis. Last year’s 10km walk raised over €24,000 for the Samarti- tans.
For further information on Living Links contact the support co-ordina- tor between 5pm to 7pm Monday- Friday at 086 0565373.