DERRY GAA club Eoghan Rua are this week launching a novel fundraising scheme with two thoughts in mind. To provide a second pitch and also to raise money and awareness for mental health/suicide prevention.
With 25 teams to be catered for across all four codes – football, hurling, camogie and ladies football, Eoghan Rua are reacting accordingly by providing for their membership.
“We are launching a social media campaign similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge,” explains club member Richard Carey.
“Our initiative is based on GAA memories. As an example, I will post a GAA memory on Facebook. It might be a written post, video or a photo and I will nominate four friends to post their memory.
“When people post they will also use a specific text donate service to donate £2/€2. We have teamed up with two mental health charities to run this campaign with – namely Aware in the North and Pieta House in the South.”
Carey recognises the importance of the GAA in the local community. “We are a proactive club who have a strong tradition of supporting charities and we see this as part of our Health and Well-being program.”
All money donated will go directly to charity and at the end of the campaign 30% of the funds will be filtered back into Eoghan Rua, as part of the plans for a second playing pitch.
“We are asking GAA clubs and their members to support our development, but that is exactly how GAA clubs survive and thrive,” added Carey, who skippered his side to John McLaughlin Cup success back in 2010.
The initiative will be rolled out using Facebook on Wednesday September 21. “Eoghan Rua will nominate people on Facebook from different clubs all over the country and challenge them to post a GAA.”
Carey recognises the scope for other clubs to get in on the act. “This has the potential to raise awareness and funds for an issue that is affecting GAA communities all over Ireland.
“When we ask club members and Gaels from other clubs to help us launch we will send them a document outlining all the key details.”
More details are available on the club’s Facebook account - www.facebook.com/coleraineeoghanrua
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