Cork man undertaking gruelling push-up challenge in memory his brother

A Kinsale man has vowed to do 100 push-ups every day in November to raise money for Pieta.

Nicky McCarthy lost a brother to suicide 27 years ago, and is carrying out the fitness challenge to help fund the organisation which provides free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress, engage in self-harm, or are bereaved by suicide.

Nicky has a huge interest in fitness and in health and safety - the latter of which he is currently studying in UCC, while also maintaining two full-time jobs!

Because of work commitments, he was unable to join in with Pieta’s annual Darkness Into Light initiative in May.

So when the charity challenged people to do 100 push-ups a day in November and raise funds, Nicky jumped at the chance.

He began to tell his friends of his plans and started a video diary for social media.

“The support has been immense,” he says, “it’s a charity that’s so important to everyone.

“You can’t meet a person who hasn’t some experience of dealing with suicide, whether in their family or within their friends’ group.”

Nicky and his family know all about the effects of suicide on those who are left behind trying to make sense of it all.

Nicky lost his much-loved son and brother, Gearóid, in 1997, when he was a month short of his 25th birthday. Gearóid was 23 months younger than Nicky and they grew up to be very close, sharing many of the same friends.

Nicky remembers Gearóid as having a love of music, and also a love of cooking. He thinks that his brother may have gone into cheffing eventually.

“Even though he was 6ft 3in, he could be shy and was an introvert at heart,” says Nicky.

“He was very popular with his large circle of friends. “

When Gearóid died, their older brother Shaun was living in Australia and Nicky was living and working in Holland.

Gearóid was sharing a flat with his friends on Lower O’Connell Street in Kinsale.

Both devastated brothers came home straight away to grieve together with their heartbroken parents.

“It was a different time,” Nicky says, “this was when you would ring home maybe once a week to say hello, you weren’t texting or Facetiming so you weren’t in tune with what was going on in other people’s lives.”

That year, 1997, and the following few years, was a devastating time in Kinsale as several young men died of suicide.

Gearóid and the other young people who died are well remembered and are spoken about regularly in the community.

In support of the amazing work that Pieta do, Nicky decided to do the 100 push-ups per day challenge, and now has just a few days to go.

He started off doing five sets of 20, and hopes to improve to that to two sets of 50 by the end of the month.

“Every one of us has busy lives,” Nicky says, “but some things are just so important that you do everything you can to find the time.”

Busy is right! Not only is he a full-time scaffolder, he works as a bouncer, and is about to enter the next phase of his education in UCC, studying Workplace Safety.

Nicky doesn’t have a cash amount to aim for, but hopes people would support him on his journey.

“So far, the response has been wonderful,” he says. “I was slow to post the link up at first as I didn’t know if the support was there, but when it comes to a charity like this, everyone wants to help.

“It’s given those of us doing the challenge the motivation to keep going and to do our best.”

If you are in a position to make a donation please clink on the link on Nick McCarthy’s Facebook page. You can stay anonymous or get a shout out if you prefer for yourself or your business.

See https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15NiJppCPT/

Everyone that participates in the Pieta push-ups challenge can claim a t-shirt. There is a Facebook page offering support and advice. Donations can be made up until December 14 (registered charity 20062026).

Pieta crisis helpline 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444

Pieta was established in Dublin in 2006 and opened its doors in Cork in December, 2013. Since its inception, it has helped more than 70,000 people who were in suicidal distress or self-harming.

It now has 20 locations around the country and has seen the needs for its services grow.

They offer a 24-hour helpline and have more than 300 qualified therapists and support staff.

The funding for this vital facility comes from donations from individuals and companies, with its flagship fundraiser being ‘Darkness into Light’, which sees thousands around the country walk in order to raise much-needed funds.