There are hundreds of deserving causes worthy of the time and effort but one recent initiative struck a chord this week when my colleagues in the Dublin Journalists Golf Society announced the recipient of their charity day this year.
Not only are the Dublin Journalists friends and colleagues, and in one case, a former classmate in the 1983-85 Journalism course at the College of Commerce in Rathmines, their chosen charity was even closer to home.
HUGG — Healing Untold Grief Groups — was set up by my sister Fiona in 2017 following the death by suicide of her daughter Milly aged just 11 on 4 January 2016.
It was a devastating loss for Fiona, her husband Tim and for their other daughter, Daisy and of course, the wider family and friends.
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is part of life but death by suicide is an even greater challenge for many who don’t know where to turn.
After discovering there were few support structures in place, Fiona formally set up HUGG on 10 February 2018, Milly’s birthday, to provide reactive grief support to suicide bereaved adults in Ireland.
My former classmate in Rathmines, Gerry McCarthy, who last year tragically lost his son Conor to suicide at the age of 26, played in recent Dublin Journalists Charity Day at Killeen Castle.
Gerry was also on hand this week at HUGG headquarters with society captain Roddy Hyland and members David Curtin and John Fogarty for the handover by the society of a cheque for €10,800.
“The funds raised by the DJGS will enable HUGG to setup and run a support group for an entire year,” Fiona said. “Which can literally be life saving for those impacted by suicide.”
Having someone to speak to is a key part of HUGG’s mission and even a casual conversation with Fiona was described by Gerry as “an enormous gift”.
Golf is not alone in its sterling efforts to raise crucial funds for deserving causes but those seemingly inconsequential charity days organised up and down the country can have a mighty impact.
If you know someone affected by suicide, you can help by putting them in touch with HUGG here.
“We are delighted as we celebrate our 50thanniversary to present HUGG with a donation that will make a real difference to the brilliant and essential service that they offer to those affected by suicide across Ireland,” said DJGS captain Roddy Hyland.
“We are proud that our members supported HUGG in such a significant way at our Charity Day at Killeen Castle and we are touched that this money raised can make even a small difference to anyone affected by suicide. I want to thank Fiona and HUGG for allowing us to be a small part of their ongoing and outstanding work.
“I also want to thank our event hosts Killeen Castle, and Karen Collins and Cormac Ryan in particular, for their unstinting support of our Charity Day. They were exemplary hosts from start to finish and I want to wish them well when they host the Irish Challenge on the European Challenge Tour next year and again in 2027, just recognition for a wonderful Jack Nicklaus signature course.”
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