Fundraising from the Camino – the Gary Kelly Centre

What a delight it was to meet Ann Tracey from the Gary Kelly Centre in Drogheda on Wednesday. As Director of Fundraising she came to Gormanston to officially receive the cheque for 1,350Euro gathered by the students who walked the Camino last March. Nine students walked and five of them – Sean Brennan, Kate Brennan, Jake Malone, Robert Tully and Sean Hayes raised money for the centre. What a whopping sum between them. The walk itself was a major challenge, so the additional effort of asking friends, family, neighbours, teachers and more is highly commendable.

A Fantastic Donation

A Fantastic Donation

Franciscan College Gormanston Run for Pieta House

Darkness into Light 5km Run/Walk

Calling 5th/6th Year Runners/Walkers

What: 5km run/walk

When: 4am Sat 11th May 2013

Where: Newbridge House, Donabate

Why: In aid of Pieta House: Suicide and Self-Harm Crisis Centre

How much: 15euro

(Starts at 4am in order to cross the line just as dawn is breaking.)

Darkness into Light is the flagship fundraising and awareness event for Pieta House, and without support, they could not have helped over 7,300 people in distress over the last 7 years.

The Pieta House Vision

Its vision is to provide suicide and self-harm support services within 100 kilometres of everyone in Ireland.

Its mission statement

Pieta House wants to:

  • reduce the number of deaths by suicide
  • reduce the number of people engaging in self-harm
  • bring about social change

For more details, and to join the Gormanston Team, see Miss Ryan, Miss Meighan or Mr Black. And get out there training!

After the Camino…

Beautiful Scenery

I’ve just returned from a 31-day walk across the north of Spain. It was a fantastic experience. Walking alone, walking with others, praying in the countryside, praying in the churches, carrying everything I need, sharing when others need, feeling blisters and sore muscles, great albergues and hospitaleros, early mornings, early nights, the sounds, sights, smells, and silence of nature, enjoying the company of others, listening, talking, laughing, sharing, caring… and the list goes on. Arriving in Santiago was one of the highlights; realising that that is when the Camino really begins was one of the insights.

Camino Companions

Walking the Camino taught me to be grateful for the real things in life – people: family, friends. We are all walking on the path of life, sometimes alone, but always together, making a journey in different ways but arriving at the same ultimate destination. People everywhere are really all the same – simple needs required by us all: kindness, sharing, respect, a chance to speak, a time to listen, the need to give and receive love and friendship, a place to rest and sleep, a simple meal shared with friends (or strangers who will become friends). This is what is true for us all. Let us give thanks for the beauty of the world around us, the glory of God and the people who travel our journey with us.

Fifth years, watch this space – in September you will hear more….

Here is an animoto slideshow that captures a few images of my journey in June.

Many thanks to all who sponsored my walk (done on behalf of Gormanston) and donated money to the Jack and Jill Foundation. Nearly €1800 has been raised and still more to come!