‘Jigsaw is in the heart of communities across Ireland’

A FETTERCAIRN man will be leading a team of seven motorcyclists on a 72-hour ‘Grand Tour’ visiting every Jigsaw hub in Ireland next month, to raise funds for the youth mental health charity.

The group will be led by Damian Sheridan, who works as a facilities manager for Jigsaw, and will be complemented by a series of fundraising events for all to take part in.

The events will begin with a blow dry and spray tan-athon in Sahasrara Hair and Beauty in Springfield from midday to 4pm on May 28.

Other events include a family fun day at City Spares Motorcycles in Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate on June 10.

On June 13, there will be an event with Radio Nova at a Joe Duffy Motors branch supporting Damian’s endeavour, and on June 15 a ‘text to donate’ system will be launched.

The ‘text to donate’ system will coincide with the beginning of the Grand Tour, which kicks off on June 15 and will see the motorcyclists cover 15,000km in 72 hours.

The seven motorcyclists are Damian, Dave Perry, Daryl D’Art, Tony Golden, Tom Meanly, Mark Sheridan and Donal Doyle.

They will also be accompanied by a support van kindly donated by Enterprise Ireland and driven by David Fee and Mark O’Riordan.

The Grand Tour will then conclude with a finale barbecue, which will also mark the second year that Damian and his colleagues have taken on a 72- hour motorcycling challenge for Jigsaw.

Damian told The Echo: “Jigsaw is an incredible charity.

“Working in facilities, I’m heavily involved with each of Jigsaw’s 16 locations around Ireland, soon to be 17 with the addition of a new hub in Swords.

“I see how each and every team in Jigsaw is focused on young people and the delivery of Jigsaw’s early intervention mental health service.

“Jigsaw is in the heart of communities across Ireland offering community-based programs aimed at better informing, supporting, educating, and empowering young people and those around them.

“There is still so much work to be done and progress to be made around mental health. We have come a long way over the past 10 years or so.

“In 2022 Jigsaw offered over 36,000 appointments to young people, the highest number in a given year.

“The Grand Tour is as much about awareness as it is fundraising.

“The majority of young people are referred to Jigsaw by a parent.

“There is a huge motorcycling community in Ireland, mostly made up of parents, and so many have reached out to support this fundraising campaign.”

The mammoth challenge is being sponsored by Radio Nova and Joe Duffy Motors, and Damian is motivated by the impact the fundraising will have on Jigsaw’s services.

“All the money we raise will be used to support Jigsaw’s vision: an Ireland where every young person’s mental health is valued and supported,” he said.

For more information, visit The Grand Tour Jigsaw Photo Challenge 2 Facebook page. The QR code below can be used for donations.