Westport man shining a light on homelessness

LAST Christmas Day, a Westport man had lunch in a Las Vegas diner with a homeless woman and her son.

This Sunday, Padraic (Pippy to his friends) Rocliffe is shining a light on homelessness closer to home with his Homeless Heroes event in Dublin, and he's looking for your support.

A physical education student in the University of Limerick, Padraic's story of breaking his neck, back and foot in a car crash in the US last year on exchange has featured on the radio with Dave Fanning this week.

Ten months in rehabilitation in the US, on Christmas Day he went out to a diner, feeling lonely, and came across a homeless woman and her son. He invited them into the diner and bought them lunch so he could hear their story. It turned out they had been evicted after the mother lost her job, and so ended up homeless.

Now back home in Ireland, he decided to hold an event this year in aid of the homeless - Homeless Heroes, which is taking place this Sunday, December 17.

Basically, Pippy and his friends are taking to the streets of Dublin to distribute essentials such as hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, flasks, food, wipes and more.

Volunteers will be breaking in to groups of four and five before 'taking over' Dublin city in the hope of shinging a light for the homeless.

They'll be meeting at 1 p.m. at the Spire in Dublin's city centre, and all are invited to pop along and get involved.

If you're unable to help you can make a donation, which are available at different locations, including through Padraic himself (padraicrock@gmail.com or call 0857362563. In Dublin, drop-off can be made through Lisa Higgins at Higgins Off-Licence, Windy Arbour (South Dublin).

The event is fully recognised by the University of Limerick, allowing students to clock the hours they put in to the event toward the presidents volunteer award programme.