Dunmurry Dipper Challenge

The Dunmurry Dipper Challenge is to swim in cold water every day for 365 days starting from 1st January 2023 in aid of LA519. It is to remember Luke and increase awareness of suicide prevention and mental health resources. The main co-ordinator is Dessie Aughey originally from Smithboro, Monaghan and now living in Dunmurry, Belfast. Dessie has picked a charity very close to his heart as he is a cousin of Barry, Luke’s father.

Barry and Deirdre want Luke’s legacy to make a difference by taking a proactive approach to preventing suicide and promoting mental resilience. All funds raised will go towards providing QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and Mental Health First Responders - both certified training courses on suicide prevention as well as funding resilience talks. These courses & seminars are offered to families, schools, sport clubs, community centres and workplaces at no cost, they are FREE when booked through LA519.

LA519 founded in 2021 has been arranging training throughout Co. Monaghan and surrounding counties. Unfortunately, there is not a county in Ireland that could not benefit from bringing more awareness to suicide prevention and mental health, one of Barry’s goals is to have an LA519 representative in every county of Ireland adding to and promoting the supports that are already available.

In the world today a life is lost to suicide every 12.8 minutes! The impact suicide has on family members, friends, co-workers, and the community is devastating.

You can keep up to date with chills and splashes of Dessie and his fellow dippers on the Dunmurry Dippers Facebook page, you can follow the weekly up-dates on how the dipping is going and more information on the funds raised.