Student paramedics set to raise funds for Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre

A group of young student paramedics at the national ambulance service college in Tullamore have organised a 5k fun run/walk this weekend to raise funds for the local Rape Crisis Centre.

The run will set out on Sunday, March 13, at 3pm from the Fiona Pender monument, and the route will continue along Fiona’s Way to the Car Park at Digby Bridge in Cappincur and then return to the monument, which is a total distance of 5k.

One of the organisers of the event is Bray native Niamh Holland, who enrolled in the Class of September 2021 at the national ambulance service college in Tullamore. She says the idea of raising funds for the Rape Crisis Centre came about after the class completed a number of modules on the broad issue of violence against women, including sexual abuse.

“We had a number of class conversations about this issue, so we came up with the idea of hosting a fundraising event and we wanted to keep it local to Tullamore so we decided to raise funds for the Rape Crisis Centre,” says Niamh.

The student paramedic says sexual violence is “very prevalent” in society, and from different conversations she has been having over the last number of months with family, friends and her fellow students, she has realised just how much the issue of violence against women impacts the day to day life of so many women.

“It is a very real issue for every woman, and we have been getting great support for our fundraising drive, including sponsorship from Tullamore Credit Union and from a number of other businesses in the town,” says Niamh.

A special GoFundMe page has been set up where participants in Sunday’s 5k walk/run can donate (5km Run or Walk for Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre), and the organisers are hoping to raise as much money as possible for the local Rape Crisis Centre.

The Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre provides Support and services for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence. All their services are free, non-judgemental and confidential for men and women. The vision for the Centre is for a society where rape and all forms of sexual violence no longer exist.

Niamh Holland is calling on everyone in the Tullamore area to make their way down to Fiona’s Way on the Grand Canal at 3pm this Sunday for the 5km walk or run.

“We are expecting up to 120 people, and myself and my fellow student paramedics will be wearing special t-shirts with the Tullamore Rape Crisis logo on them, so it should be a great day and hopefully we can raise as much money as possible to assist the work of the volunteers in the local Rape Crisis Centr,e” she says.