An Offaly Applegreen station will be asking its customers to take a walk this week

The fuel retailer is taking part in a first nationwide Suicide Awareness Week from June 17-23 on behalf of national suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console.

Customers of Tullamore Applegreen at Water Lane will be invited by manager Carol Cuddy and staff to join them for a fun 5km Console Walk and Talk, details of when and where will be on display in the store.

During the week customers at the company’s 72 fuel stations nationwide will receive information leaflets with Console’s 24-hour helpline number, website, and contact details for Console centres by staff sporting the charity’s tee-shirts.

The Offaly fuel outlet is among ten Applegreen stations around the country organising a Walk and Talk event.

“This is a fantastic initiative which helps Console get the message out to people who may be in crisis, or their concerned friends and family, that there is help out there,” said Console’s Director of Services Ciaran Austin.

“Console’s twin themes are community and communication, and the Walk and Talk is a perfect example of how we can get together and really connect with one another.”

As part of the campaign all 180,000 of the company’s loyalty customers will also receive an email shot with the Console information leaflet.

Console has been a chosen beneficiary of Applegreen’s charitable fund for the past two years with the company raising €120,000 for the charity last year.

“I believe this is the first time a forecourt retailer has taken a mental health campaign to their customers,” said Applegreen’s Director of Operations Joe Barrett.

“Every time you make a shop and fuel or a shop-only purchase, one cent of the purchase total is donated to our charitable fund but our help doesn’t stop there.

“At Applegreen we actively engage with our charity partners in many ways from supporting their events to climbing mountains to help raise funds.

“We are delighted to help Console with this excellent public information campaign on suicide awareness.”

Nationwide professional suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console offers counselling services and 24-hour helpline support to people in crisis and those bereaved by suicide (Freephone 1800 201 890).

The charity has full-time counselling centres in Cork, Dublin, Wexford, Limerick, Galway, Kerry and Mayo. It also offers services in Kildare, Athlone and other areas of Dublin such as Tallaght and Clondalkin and has recently opened a service in London.

Console thanked the management and staff of Applegreen for their work on behalf of the charity.

“This vital support from Applegreen, its staff and its customers, is helping to make a huge difference to all those vulnerable people who come to us for help and support,” said Ciaran Austin.

For information on Console contact: Ciaran Austin, Director of Services, Console: 087 636 2234 / 01 610 2638ciaran.austin@console.ie or visit www.console.ie.

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