Tattoo-athon raises €4,500 for HOPE

By Mary Dennehy

A COMMUNITY-led charity drive has raised €4,500 for the HOPE suicide prevention centre, with members of the local community and businesses working together to leave a positive mark on the Tallaght-based support service.

Since 2013, a team of people from St Aengus, Castlepark and Balrothery have been staging atattoo-athon on Good Friday, with money raised in past years going to Pieta House and NINA for LIFE Suicide Awareness.

In 2016 and 2017, the chosen charity has been the HOPE suicide prevention centre in Tallaght Village – which offers support, counselling and a cup of tea through its weekly drop-in centre in Trustus House, to anybody feeling depressed, anxious or suicidal.

This year, the tattoo team also organised an eighties fundraising night in the Maldron Hotel – with the two events raising an impressive €5,500.

After expenses, €4,500 is being handed over to Hope, while a small donation is also being made to the Tree of Hope project.

Patrick Faye, one of the volunteer organisers, told The Echo: “Both events went really well and we’d like to thank everybody who offered support or donated.

“The tattoo day was great and 55 people got tattoos, with lots of others dropping into the St Aengus Community Centre on the day to buy raffle tickets or to have a cup of tea and a chat.

“While this was about raising funds, it was also about raising awareness and we always have a few people dropping in who have had suicide in their lives.”

He added: “We’d just like to say a big thank-you to everybody for their support, this money will make a huge difference to Hope and the people that they support.”

Patrick also wished to mention the St Aengus Community Centre, the Maldron Hotel Tallaght and eighties band Reflex for their support.

For information on HOPE, which runs every Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm in Trustus House, Main Road, Tallaght, visit the HOPE Suicide Prevention Drop in Centre Tallaght Facebook page or call 087 1363082. Turn to page 61 for pictures of the tattoo day.