Students are heading into the unknown for charity

TWO students from Trinity College are calling on local businesses to sponsor them as they make their way across Europe to ‘Location X’, in aid of Amnesty International and St Vincent De Paul. 

Orla Doolin, from Raheny, and Kildare native Emma Murray are participating in this year’s ‘Jailbreak’, Ireland’s largest student fundraiser. 

Now in its fifth year, the event will see over 100 teams from across Ireland race to an unknown location, ‘Location X’, over the course of 36 hours, on March 11-12. 

Clues will be released to help the teams find ‘Location X’, with the entire event aiming to raise over €50,000 for the two charities. 

“We applied because it sounded like lots of fun and a really good adventure, as well as supporting two great charities. We thought it would be something really exciting to take part in,” Orla said. Orla and Emma are asking local businesses to sponsor their journey, as all the fundraising done prior to their departure must be given to the charities. 

“The way the competition works is that all the money we’ve raised so far has to go towards the charities but if any business sponsors us, half of the money they give us can be used towards our travel to help us on our way to ‘Location X’,” Orla said. 

“Everything that’s donated online is going directly to the charities. If a business pays for a flight or a bus for us, whatever that cost is, it must be matched with the donation to the charities. So the charities are being supported the whole time.

“That’s why we’re looking for a local business to sponsor us, to help us cover some of our expenses over the weekend itself.” 

To participate in the event, every team must raise a minimum of €300. To date, Orla and Emma have raised just over €1,000 for the two charities through a coffee morning, a pub quiz and donations from family and friends. 

“Really, we’re doing this to raise money for the charities but we also want to raise awareness through their causes as well and getting to ‘Location X’ would really help us do that.” 

Orla and Emma leave for ‘Location X’ on March 11. With the support of a local business, their attempt to make it to the unknown location could become a reality. 

“It is very daunting,” she added. “We don’t know where we’re going to be going or how we’re going to be getting there or even if we will be able to get there. Hopefully with the support we will be able to. 

“We’re really looking forward to raising money and awareness for these two great charities but also the adventure for the weekend itself.”

For more, visit www.facebook.com/OrlaEmmaJailbreak2017

REPORT: Hayley Halpin