IPAV supports Cycle Against Suicide

Photo shows - David McDonnell, president of IPAV (Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers) presenting a cheque for €6,000 to Caroline Lafferty, CEO of Cycle Against Suicide. The annual IPAV president’s lunch has raised over €60,000 for various charities over the last seven years.

The annual nationwide Cycle Against Suicide event will arrive in Mullingar for the final leg of an eight-day event on Saturday May 2.

Organisers are seeking volunteer households for ‘homestays’, whereby local households offer an evening meal, overnight accommodation and breakfast to one or more cyclists on the Saturday night. It’s a very worthy cause and a rewarding gesture by local residents and families.

Recently, IPAV president David McDonnell hosted the president’s charity lunch at the Westbury Hotel to raise funds for Cycle Against Suicide.

“Cycle Against Suicide is a voluntary organisation with two objectives, firstly to spread the message that ‘it’s OK not to feel OK and it is absolutely OK to ask for help,” said David.

“Cycle Against Suicide’s main campaign for raising awareness into communities is its Annual Cycle. The 2020 event will take place from Saturday April 25 to May 3.”

The campaign will cycle through Galway, Tuam, Castlebar, Kiltimagh, Sligo, Bundoran, Donegal, Irvinestown, Enniskillen, Clones, Cavan, Granard, Longford, Roscommon, Athlone, Mullingar, Enfield and finish at Swords Castle.

Cycle Against Suicide works with 200 secondary schools to create a caring, respectful and safe learning environment that supports mental health in schools, building hope and resilience and fostering a sense of belonging among young people.

Charity CEO, Caroline Lafferty, says that for the majority of adults living with mental health problems or mental illness, the first onset of their symptoms began when they were teenagers and evidence shows that early intervention is critical if treatment is to have the most positive outcomes for the future life chances of those affected.

To make a donation simply log onto www.cycleagainstsuicide.com.