Derval O’Rourke launches Bank of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge 2016 – supporting St. Vincent de Paul
Bank of Ireland has today launched its unique fundraising event – the Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge – which will run from the 13th till the 27th of May and will involve 35 communities along the Wild Atlantic Way from Cork to Donegal. The Big Blue Box will travel from town to town by bike to raise money for St Vincent De Paul, with Bank of Ireland promising to match each euro raised in the local communities. Bank of Ireland will also become the first bank in Ireland to pioneer contactless donations via debit card, with volunteers along the Big Blue Box route equipped to accept donations with contactless terminals.
Speaking at the launch, Liam Sheedy, Regional Manager, from Bank of Ireland, said; “The Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge is supporting local communities the length of the Wild Atlantic Way and all donations raised locally go directly to support the fantastic work of the local St. Vincent de Paul. In addition to involvement from hundreds of our own Bank of Ireland staff, we have huge support from local communities who are fully behind the event.
“Last year over €40,000 was collected in on-street fundraising events across the 35 participating towns. This was done mostly through ‘coin in a bucket’ giving, with the Bank matching that amount to donate a total of €80,000 to St. Vincent de Paul. With more and more transactions moving to contactless, we are delighted to be the first Irish Bank to provide a contactless facility for on-street charity collection and we hope this will make donating easier for anyone who would like to support the superb work of St. Vincent De Paul.”
Adding to this Derval O’Rourke said: “I’m thrilled to be involved with the Bank of Ireland Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge. It’s a wonderful way to encourage communities from across the West of Ireland to get out and get active together, helping to raise money for an excellent cause. I’d really encourage locals to get involved with the initiative, whether it’s dusting down the bicycle to participate, volunteering in one of the 35 towns or donating.”
President of St. Vincent De Paul, Geoff Meagher said; “We would like to thank Bank of Ireland and its staff once again for choosing SVP as the recipients of the funds raised during this initiative. It is a project very much aligned with the SVP ethos of providing support on a local basis by local volunteers.
SVP relies on campaigns such as the Big Blue Box Volunteer Challenge and public donations to enable us to provide as much help as possible to the thousands of families and individuals who request our help. We encourage all the communities on the route to get involved. It is a way of showing practical support for those who continue to struggle financially and emotionally on a daily basis.”
Inside the Big Blue Box will be a symbolic item that each local community wants to share with their neighbouring town and it can be a jersey, a seed or a tree, a piece of art or something representing local community interests or even local businesses. This aspect of the initiative gives each town the opportunity to raise the profile of their community with neighbouring towns in a fun and unique way.