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Cork man Bunny O'Riordan arrived into Newry on his motorbike this week as part of a campaign which will see him travel around all of Ireland's 32 counties to raise awareness for suicide bereavement support and prevention and inspire others to set up similar supports in their local communities.
The fundraising ride is in memory of his son Cian who died by suicide back in 2009. O'Riordan is riding a vintage Yamaha RD250 that he had promised to Cian for his 18th birthday, but Cian was lost to suicide only months before this milestone.
The ride started 1 August and County Down was the 17th County covered, although we brought him prematurely into his 18th when he briefly visited County Armagh for our photograph! So far he and his team have covered 1400 miles and will probably be close to 3000 when they finish the 32 counties on 2 September.
The ambition of this bike run is to raise €100,000 to turn an existing warehouse building in Midleton in Cork into a properly fitted out centre for those that need support no matter what their circumstances.
When in Newry the team called at PIPS Hope and Support in Newry and met founder Seamus McCabe "What a wonderful wonderful person, what a wonderful facility." O'Riordan said.
He added "Seamus has just blown us away with the facility they have up here in PIPS. Everything they have, from the Café right through to the therapist, right through to the support, the pre-interventions, the post-interventions, all there and it's amazing. The passion - and I identify with the passion that Seamus has. He's offered to share with us anything they have information wise, and I tell you something we'll be beating a path to his door."
O'Riordan founded the Midleton Hub to provide community resources that were not available to him following his son’s death from suicide. He firmly believes that the Midleton HUB can really help people who experience serious negative mental health tendencies like his son did, and people who experience the bereavement of a loved one due to suicide.
He also believes that integrating mental health care in a safe community environment represents the most effective way to seek out individuals in need of care and begin to address the disturbing fact that most people with mental health issues don’t receive sufficient care.
You can sponsor a brick for €100 or just make a donation at www.themidletonhub.com
It's only fair that the last word should go to Cian. We asked O'Riordan what his son would have made of his jaunt on the bike. Without drawing a breath he answered "He used to have a lovely saying he used around me - 'Here - You're ****ing weird.'"
