Bus Éireann staff raise over €25,000 for Irish Cancer Society and Movember Foundation

Bus Éireann staff raise over €25,000 for Irish Cancer Society and Movember Foundation

Inaugural year of participation sees the company reach fourth spot on corporate leader board

Bus Éireann presented the Movember Foundation with a cheque for over €25,000 following the fundraising efforts of dozens of staff nationwide.
It was the first year that the company has participated in the Movember initiative to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, and in particular, fighting suicide.

The charity fits well with Bus Éireann as the majority of its 2,700 staff are male. Drivers, mechanics, clerical and executives nationwide grew moustaches and other facial hair, hosted fundraising events and took on physical challenges of ‘moving’ more. Female staff also participated, particularly with the physical challenge. All of the monies raised went to the Irish Cancer Society and the Movember Foundation.

Staff in Galway undertook a 10KM walk or 30/60KM cycle, while in Limerick bus station a coffee morning was hosted – raising significant funds in both cases. Bus Éireann participants raised €25,844 collectively. 

Stephen Kent, Chief Executive of Bus Éireann said: “This is our first year working with the Movember Foundation and I am overwhelmed by the support of our staff. It is a fantastic achievement to raise such a large sum for this very worthy cause.”

Jack O’Connor, Movember Foundation Ireland Country Director said: “Men are dying too young, on average six years younger than women. This simply because we don’t talk enough when we are not doing so good, we don’t act when there is a problem and as a result, die too young. Too many suffer in silence and seek help too late. 

“Globally we lose one man to suicide every minute, and 8 in 10 suicides in Ireland are men. This is totally unacceptable and something we can change by talking more openly about suicide and creating a world where men are not afraid to talk and ask for help – and that is where this funding helps.”

The Movember Foundation is the world’s leading charity dedicated to men’s health, with the mission to stop men dying prematurely and by investing in programmes and initiatives in the most critical medical issues facing men today; prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health & suicide prevention. By 2030 the Movember Foundation aim to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25%. 

Friday, 21st December, 2018