Elma Walsh addresses 4th & 5th Yr students
06 May, 2015
Donal Walsh will always be remembered as that confident 16 yr old Kerry lad who lost his battle with cancer on the 12th May 2013. During his final months on this earth, he made it his business to fulfill his 'Bucket List' dreams but perhaps more importantly, to campagin for young people NOT to end their lives. His set up
DONAL Walsh came to national prominence recently when a letter he wrote made a plea for an end to the suicide epidemic among young people. This is his letter:
A few months left, he said. There it was; I was given a timeline on the rest of my life. No choice, no say, no matter. It was given to me as easy as dinner.
I couldn’t believe it, that all I had was 16 years here, and soon I began to pay attention to every detail that was going on in this town.
I realised that I was fighting for my life for the third time in four years and this time I have no hope. Yet still I hear of young people committing suicide and I’m sorry but it makes me feel nothing but anger.
I feel angry that these people choose to take their lives, to ruin their families and to leave behind a mess that no one can clean up.
Yet I am here with no choice, trying as best I can to prepare my family and friends for what’s about to come and leave as little a mess as possible.
I know that most of these people could be going through financial despair and have other problems in life, but I am at the depths of despair and, believe me, there is a long way to go before you get to where I am.
For these people, no matter how bad life gets, there are no reasons bad enough to make them do this; if they slept on it or looked for help they could find a solution, and they need to think of the consequences of what they are about to do.
So please, as a 16-year-old who has no say in his death sentence, who has no choice in the pain he is about to cause and who would take any chance at even a few more months on this planet, appreciate what you have, know that there are always other options and help is always there.
Last Yr, a group from Transition Yr formed a mini-company to raise funds for #LiveLife by selling wristbands on behalf of the foundation. In the process, they helped raise €2,000. Along with theit Mini-company teacher, Ms. Quirke, herself a Tralee native, they visited the Walsh household in Blennerville to present the proceeds to the Walsh, who accepted on behalf of Donal. On that day, Elma promised to return the visit, which she duly did on Friday 1st May this yr.
She delivered an inspiring presentation on Donal's life and spirit for life and re-echoed his main message on suicide prevention. This was clearly shown by the students with the reception given at the conclusion of her talk
Thanks Elma. - and Donal (RIP 12/5/13)
06 May, 2015
Donal Walsh will always be remembered as that confident 16 yr old Kerry lad who lost his battle with cancer on the 12th May 2013. During his final months on this earth, he made it his business to fulfill his 'Bucket List' dreams but perhaps more importantly, to campagin for young people NOT to end their lives. His set up
DONAL Walsh came to national prominence recently when a letter he wrote made a plea for an end to the suicide epidemic among young people. This is his letter:
A few months left, he said. There it was; I was given a timeline on the rest of my life. No choice, no say, no matter. It was given to me as easy as dinner.
I couldn’t believe it, that all I had was 16 years here, and soon I began to pay attention to every detail that was going on in this town.
I realised that I was fighting for my life for the third time in four years and this time I have no hope. Yet still I hear of young people committing suicide and I’m sorry but it makes me feel nothing but anger.
I feel angry that these people choose to take their lives, to ruin their families and to leave behind a mess that no one can clean up.
Yet I am here with no choice, trying as best I can to prepare my family and friends for what’s about to come and leave as little a mess as possible.
I know that most of these people could be going through financial despair and have other problems in life, but I am at the depths of despair and, believe me, there is a long way to go before you get to where I am.
For these people, no matter how bad life gets, there are no reasons bad enough to make them do this; if they slept on it or looked for help they could find a solution, and they need to think of the consequences of what they are about to do.
So please, as a 16-year-old who has no say in his death sentence, who has no choice in the pain he is about to cause and who would take any chance at even a few more months on this planet, appreciate what you have, know that there are always other options and help is always there.
Last Yr, a group from Transition Yr formed a mini-company to raise funds for #LiveLife by selling wristbands on behalf of the foundation. In the process, they helped raise €2,000. Along with theit Mini-company teacher, Ms. Quirke, herself a Tralee native, they visited the Walsh household in Blennerville to present the proceeds to the Walsh, who accepted on behalf of Donal. On that day, Elma promised to return the visit, which she duly did on Friday 1st May this yr.
She delivered an inspiring presentation on Donal's life and spirit for life and re-echoed his main message on suicide prevention. This was clearly shown by the students with the reception given at the conclusion of her talk
Thanks Elma. - and Donal (RIP 12/5/13)