Bank of Ireland launches the Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge – a fundraising event to support St Vincent De Paul

Galway girl Sile Seoige launches the initiative in Salthill

Galway Girl Sile Seoige pictured here with cyclists from Bank of Ireland in Galway to launch the Bank of Ireland Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge in aid of St Vincent De Paul. The initiative will run from the 5 until the 19 June involving 35 communities along the Wild Atlantic Way. The Big Blue Box will travel from town to town by bike with the aim of raising money for the local SVP with members of the local community and Bank of Ireland staff set to travel 1,237 kilometres in total.

Bank of Ireland has today announced a new fundraising event called the Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge which will run from the 5 until the 19 June involving 35 communities along the Wild Atlantic Way. The Big Blue Box will travel from town to town by bike with the aim of raising money for the local St Vincent de Paul (SVP), with Bank of Ireland promising to match each euro raised in the local communities*. Bank of Ireland staff and members of the local community will travel over 1,237 kilometres and local fundraising events will be held in each town along the route.

Inside the Big Blue Box will be a symbolic item representing each town, area or community; something that each community would like to share with their neighbouring town. It could be a jersey, a seed or a tree, a piece of art or a plaque or simply a message of goodwill that the local community would like to pass on. Members of the local community will be encouraged to nominate an item for inclusion in the Big Blue Box in their local Bank of Ireland branch as part of the initiative.

Speaking at the launch John Keegan, Director Distribution Channels, Bank of Ireland said; “The aim of the Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge is to support local communities and raise funds for the SVP who do fantastic work across the West of Ireland. Bank of Ireland staff as well as members of the local community will be participating in the event and we are expecting strong involvement across the 35 local communities. All donations raised locally will go directly to support the work of the local SVP”.

Adding to this Sile Seoige said: “I’m delighted to be involved with the Bank of Ireland Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge. I think it’s a fantastic idea to help mobilise communities across the west of Ireland to help raise money for a very worthy cause. I’d like to encourage local people to get involved with the initiative by participating, volunteering or donating during the activities”.

President of SVP Geoff Meagher said: “This is a great initiative and very much aligned with the SVP ethos of providing support on a local basis by local volunteers. We would like to thank Bank of Ireland and its staff for choosing SVP as the recipients of funds raised during this initiative. SVP continues to receive many requests for help from families and individuals throughout the country and relies on campaigns such as the Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge and public donations to enable us provide as much help as possible. We encourage all the communities on the route to get involved. It is a way of showing practical support for those in each community who continue to struggle financially and emotionally on a daily basis.”

You can also donate through Pay to Mobile sending a donation directly to 087 373 7282

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Notes to Editor

*Bank of Ireland will match up to €35,000 of all funds raised for this initiative.