Niall Breslin (left) with Claire Weston and Noe Nangle, at the launch of the ‘Rising up for Youth Mental Health’ event, on Lough Owel. Photo: Robbie Reynolds

Bressie and team up ante for 2024 ‘Rising’ challenge

Published: Thu 27 Jun 2024, 12:48 PM

This September, Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin, musician, podcaster, and mental health advocate, alongside a small group of friends, is set to embark on a fundraising journey for the award winning youth mental health charity; A Lust For Life, which he co-founded in 2017.

A Lust For Life develops early prevention mental health and wellbeing school programmes, which teach children from the earliest age how to enhance and protect their mental health so they can thrive emotionally, mentally and socially.

Following the success of their 2023 expedition kayaking the River Shannon, ‘The Rising 2024’ promises an even greater challenge. It will involve a six-day kayak along the River Shannon, a 110km cycle from Limerick to Killarney, and a climb up Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohil.

Bressie will be joined by artist Maser alongside the team from 2023 to take this challenge, supported by the team at Gym+Coffee and with partners Get Ireland Walking, Canoeing Ireland, and Cycling Ireland.

This year, Bressie wants everyone to take part in a collective ‘rising up’ across the nation in support of youth mental health.

A Lust For Life is inviting individuals and communities across Ireland to ‘rise up’ on Sunday September 15 to mark the last day of the challenge, as Bressie and the A Lust For Life team ascend Carrauntoohil. People can ‘rise up’ by doing a walk or hike in their locality with the children and young people in their lives, registering to donate and sharing photos on the day.

Each registered hike will raise funds for the charity’s educational programmes, which focus on early mental health intervention.

For Bressie, ‘The Rising’ is more than a fundraising effort. “It mirrors the reality faced by children and young people growing up in an increasingly complex world and the challenge families face in accessing care when their children are suffering from mental health difficulties.

“Why wait for a crisis? Everyone encounters rough patches in life, but with the right tools and skills, navigating those times becomes less daunting. Our school programmes are designed to equip Ireland’s children with the necessary tools and skills to enhance and protect their mental health. International research is unequivocal about the importance of early intervention and we believe Ireland can be world leaders in investing in prevention as a model of care.”

Bressie said last year’s journey down the Shannon was an incredible – and seriously tough – experience. “But it highlighted the power of community in my own life and in our country. This year, with The Rising 2024, we’re raising the stakes and inviting everyone to join us. Every step you take, or donation you make, supports our mission to help young people thrive. It’s about getting together and advocating for the wellbeing of a new generation. The most crucial thing for any young person is hope, and together, we can help keep that hope alive.”

Bernie Keogh, MD of A Lust For Life, SAID: “We set out to create an inter-generational circuit breaker in the ever declining mental health of our young people. Through our programmes, we equip children and young people with the tools to manage life’s ups and downs at every stage of school, and importantly to understand and be able to process and regulate their emotions healthily. We believe that mental health education should be embedded in the curriculum from the earliest age in school right through to Leaving Cert and beyond.

“A Lust for Life is filling that gap with our schools programmes. Our goal is to be present in every school in Ireland, from junior infants to Leaving Cert. The ultimate aim of any charity is to close its doors because it has achieved its mission. For us, that means having our programme embedded in the national curriculum. We call on everyone in Ireland to join us in making this vision a reality and to rise up with us for youth mental health this September.”

For more information on how to commit to your own walk or hike for The Rising 2024, and for other ways to get involved, visit A Lust For Life’s website. Join us this September in ‘rising up’ for youth mental health.