A SUICIDE group that patrols the River Shannon is in the frame as the chosen charity for Limerick Art Society’s latest fundraising exhibition.
The event, which takes place at the Parkway Shopping Centre will be launched this Friday February 21 at 7.30pm by Mayor Kathleen Leddin.
Limerick Art Society (LAS), which celebrates its 72nd birthday this year, will contribute 25 per cent of all sales from the exhibition to the Corbett Suicide Prevention Patrol (CSPP).
PRO for the society, Kathy Tiernan told the Limerick Post that LAS also voted at the AGM in January to select CSPP as their charity for 2014 in recognition of their great dedication.
“We hope by the end of the year to have raised not only much needed funds, but to raise an awareness of how CSPP members volunteer in all seasons to ensure that one life saved is worth everything,” said Ms Tiernan.
CSPP patrols between the four bridges in the Limerick city area and identifies and provides support to those in distress and maybe contemplating suicide. The volunteer unit, which has made scores of interventions along the riverbank since being set up over a year ago, has been chosen as Limerick Arts Society’s charity of the year with more events to be planned in its honour throughout 2014.
Paul Hogan of the CSPP commented: “We are absolutely humbled to be chosen by the Art Society in recognition of the work we do. It shows we are appreciated by the wider community and at the end of the day our job is about saving lives.”
“We are delighted by this gesture. The funds raised from this will help us pay our insurance and cover the cost of some of our training for next year. We really appreciate it,” said Mr Hogan.
The Limerick Art Society exhibition runs until Sunday March 2 and the management at the Parkway Shopping Centre have donated the use of the venue, with Dunnes Stores and O’Brien’s Wines adding their sponsorship to the event.
