A Donegal community worker is using her upcoming birthday as the perfect excuse to give to people in need in Beirut.
Letterkenny woman Siobhan McLaughlin has made an extraordinary request for her birthday this year – for people to help her support victims of the recent explosion in Beirut.
An active member of Donegal Intercultural Platform, Siobhan McLaughlin’s 58th birthday falls this Friday 14th August.
Alongside her daughter Katie McLaughlin Robinson (aged 24), she has organised a 25 kilometre walk from Dunfanaghy to Downings in Co. Donegal.
Siobhan and Katie
The walk is an act of solidarity to raise money to help grassroots organisations and the Lebanese Red Cross provide aid and support for the injured and homeless in the wake of the devastating explosion in Beirut.
More than 200 people were reportedly killed and 5,000 were people injured in the blast that tore through the densely populated city on 4th August. Some 300,000 were immediately displaced from their homes. The city is in crisis, suffering the impact of economic collapse, political turmoil and uncertainty, rising infection rates from COVID-19, and the terrible destruction wrought by the explosion.
The Donegal Intercultural Platform is supporting Siobhan’s walk by asking people in Donegal to support this act of solidarity by one, any or all of the following actions:
1. Like and share the event and GoFundMe link
2. Join the walk
3. Donate if you can via GoFundMe or in cash on the day
The walk will kick off from Dunfanaghy square at 8am this Friday 14th August.
Everyone is welcome. Please contact Caoimhe.bicproject@gmail.com or call 0868580298 if you require more details.
Lebanon is experiencing a health, economic and political crisis resulting in multiple protests. All of this is happening during a global pandemic. In a world filled with uncertainty, Lebanon needs us now more than ever. To make a donation please see the below link: https://gf.me/u/ypksk7
