#CountyChampion- Kim -Offaly- Pieta House

My name is Kim, and I took part in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon last year to raise much needed funds for Pieta House.  

Pieta have helped my family massively since the tragic loss of my brother, Dean, in 2018. Their brilliant services, which rely heavily on the generosity of local people and their communities, provided my family with much needed counselling and guidance at the worst time of our lives. As a keen sportsperson, I decided to take part in the mini marathon last year in an attempt to raise money for Pieta in return for all their help. The response I received from my fundraising campaign was phenomenal and the whole experience was one which I will hold close to my heart forever.  

Initially I set my target to €1,000, thinking that it was quite an unrealistic goal, but I wanted to aim high in true Dean style. Within the next six weeks, after taking a call live on Midlands 103 radio to speak about my fundraising and the reasons behind it, the campaign had surged to a total of over €17,000 for Pieta House. The overwhelming support and generosity that I received from the local community and beyond proved just how powerful people can be when they join with the same goal in mind.  

This goal was to raise as much money as possible for Pieta, by shining a crucial light on the devastating impact of suicide and just how important the services offered by Pieta are to grieving families. €1,000 is enough to fund an entire programme of counselling services for one personal with suicidal ideation. €20 allows Pieta’s therapist to answer 2 calls on their helpline. By taking part in massive events such as the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, you could make a huge difference on the lives of so many people. Be the reason someone smiles today.