Walk4Wellness striding towards €20K mark

Large numbers turned out in support of Walk4Wellness, a mental health initiative set up in support of SOSAD Cavan, with funds raised surpassing even last year’s impressive total.

In 2023, the first year the walk took place, Walk4Wellness raised over €18,500 for the local suicide and bereavement charity, with SOSAD Cavan subsequently opening a one-day per week outreach centre at St Kilian’s Heritage Centre in Mullagh.

Already, Walk4Wellness 2004 looks set to top the €20,000 mark, with talk of the outreach centre being expanded to include a second day.

“About 580 people took part, and so far we’re at just over €15,000, but I expect that to reach above €20,000 once all the money is in,” explained organiser Martin Tynan.

Along with the main Walk4Wellness event, which took place in Virginia, clubs from across the locality including members of CLG Cuchulainn from Mullagh, Munterconnaught, Ramor, Maghera, and Crosserlough, also organised walks in Oldcastle, in Laragh, and in Gowna.

“There is incredible support out there, and incredible generosity,” says Martin, who thanked Padraig and Laura McEvoy of SuperValu in Virginia for their sponsorship, along with other local businesses.

Martin adds that the outreach in Mullagh is “out the door busy” with people looking for help, a firm indicator that the service is badly needed in east Cavan where mental health concerns have been highlighted in the past.

The Monday service currently runs from 8am until 8pm, and the heritage centre hosts three full-time counsellors.

Martin describes their work as “invaluable” and says the lofty ambition is to set up a similar outreach service in most towns in Cavan.

“I know that’s a stretch, but that’s the ambition.”