Tom Moran of Moran & Bewleys Hotels was honoured earlier this year, when he was awarded the title 'Limerick Person of the Year' by the Limerick GAA Supporters Club. While delighted with and proud of the award, Tom felt that the title spurred him on to do something worthy of the honour, so he has embarked upon a major fundraising drive in aid of Pieta House in Ireland and Papyrus in the UK with a 250km charity walk in September, dubbed the'Tomathon.'
The aim of the 'Tomathon' is three-fold; to raise awareness about suicide, to remind people in distress where they can go for help, and to generate as much money for the charities as it can. All monies raised in Ireland will do to Pieta House and all monies raised in the UK will go to Papyrus.
Suicide is a growing problem in Ireland and the UK and something that affects families, communities, towns and cities all over. Tom was inspired to support these charities in particular because he knows so many people personally who have been affected by the suicide of a loved one.
The 'Tomathon' begins in Athea in County Limerick, where Tom is from, leaving from Athea Community Centre on the 11th September and finishing on Friday 21st September at the Red Cow Inn, Dublin, the 24th anniversary of when Tom first arrived to the Red Cow Inn. Towns that they will pass through along the way include Adare village, Nenagh, Roscrea, Portlaoise, Monasterevin, Naas and Rathcoole.
Tom will be walking the 250 km journey from Limerick to Dublin with volunteers, some of whom will walk all the way and others who will join for parts of the route, in towns, villages and townlands throughout the country, few of them, unfortunately, unaffected by suicide.
Organising a walk of this size and distance is a major logistical undertaking and wouldn't be possible without the likes of catering, transport and overnight accommodation for the volunteers and support team. In order to keep costs at a minimum, and therefore be able to donate as much as possible to Pieta House & Papyrus UK, Tom is looking for any support that he can get, whether that is in the form of a financial contribution or the donation of a service that will be required by the team over the course of the walk.
For further details on the route, supporting or volunteering in the 'Tomathon' please contact Gillian at 00353 (01) 4593650 ext 1011 or marketing@moranhotels.com to register your interest.
Staff and Management are supporting Mr Tom Moran by walking step for step with him on a treadmill that will be set up in the lobby at each hotel for the duration of the walk. All support, encouragement and donations welcome.