Mollie celebrates 21st with Pieta fundraiser
By Aideen O'Flaherty
MOLLIE Donegan’s plans to celebrate her 21st birthday, on December 27, in New York had to be shelved because of the pandemic, and she instead held a Facebook fundraiser for Pieta House in lieu of presents – and raised over €650 for the mental health charity.
The Kilnamanagh woman decided to ask people to donate to the charity for her birthday instead of giving her presents, as she has sadly lost some friends to suicide in recent years and saw the impact of Pieta House’s work.
Birthday girl Mollie Donegan raised €650 for Pieta House after her planned trip to New York for her 21st birthday celebration was cancelled
Mollie told The Echo: “I decided to raise money for Pieta House because I lost a few of my friends to suicide last year.
“I’ve seen the support they’ve given families during difficult times, and I’ve seen the effect they’ve had on people who’ve lost loved ones to suicide.”
When Mollie posted the fundraiser to her Facebook page on December 21, she set a modest target of €150, but in the days that followed 33 people donated and the amount raised totalled €668.
“I feel great about how much was raised, it was really surprising,” added Mollie, a past pupil of St Paul’s Secondary School in Greenhills. “I was just hoping to reach €150.
“It’s nice to see that people care and that they want to help.”
As for her birthday celebrations, Mollie said she had a quiet night in with her family, but is hoping she’ll finally get to see the bright lights of New York in the summer.
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