On 29th October I will be running the Irish Life Dublin Marathon in Fire Kit and wearing a 15kg Breathing Apparatus set to raise funds and awareness for PIPS a suicide prevention and mental health charity based in NI. As many will be aware we lost our friend Darren O’Neill (Dazzler) to suicide in April this year. Daz was the life and soul of the party and had a heart of pure gold. Always at the centre of the craic and has been such a loss to us all within the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. 

By running the marathon in fire kit and BA I hope to raise awareness of the mental health challenges which affect many within NIFRS and highlight the support services provided by PIPS. PIPS help individuals, families and organisations affected by suicide or mental unwellness. You can donate via the just giving link below, absolutely any amount is much appreciated, PIPS rely fully on donations in order to provide their valuable service.

If you would like to find out a little more about PIPS and the service they provide you can visit the website at  www.pipscharity.com or contact them via their helpline 0800 088 6042.

If ever there was someone deserving of this challenge it was Daz. If you need help please talk to someone. It’s OK not to be OK.